Lynn Scheurell is President of Creative Catalyst

Lynn Scheurell has been a Creative Catalyst before it became a job description (since 1998). For her, business is one’s highest calling made manifest; it is the most direct path to vibrant personal clarity. By reading and translating energetic patterns into conscious awareness, teaching the art of sacred entrepreneuring and supporting accelerated business development, Lynn facilitates forward-thinking entrepreneurs in bridging the transformational gap that occurs between the now and their desired intentional results.

By honoring your natural gifts and living to what really matters for you, all choices become a purposeful expression of personal destiny which creates dramatic results quickly in both life and business. As for the future goals of Lynn’s company, there are several new programs in the works for the next 12 months, as well as publishing a book and leading self-discovery live event experiences all designed to help people shine their light brighter and make a living from the inside out. For more information visit: www.MyCreativeCatalyst.com

Lynn Scheurell is one of WE Magazine for Women’s Top 100 Women in Ecommerce™ for 2012. To read about the other 99 women, visit (PDF): http://bit.ly/whoswho2012 or (turning page):http://bit.ly/wewhoswho2012

Walethia Aquil is an International Author, Speaker, Philanthropist and Etiquette Coach and the President of Grace and Charm

PURPOSE, PASSION and PERSISTENCE are the core principles by which Walethia lives. Walethia Aquil, the CEO of Grace and Charm, and the creator of the Grace and Charm Success System. Walethia is a dynamo with a fiery personality and has been responsible for moving entrepreneurs from invisible to impeccable.

Proving that, it is possible for anyone to dramatically change their circumstances. Walethia’s own life reflects the ultimate personal transformation story, evolving from a terribly shy and insecure child, embarrassed and self-conscious about her social skills into a successful CEO, model, award-winning image consultant, etiquette advisor, media expert, and radio host.

Walethia is actively involved in her community, her most recent endeavors includes the creation of My Dreams do Come True, which she serves as CEO. My Dreams do Come True is an emerging non-profit which donates formal gowns to high school seniors wishing to attend their prom. As a facilitator for Teenquest, a pre-employment training program, she helps prepare teens 9-12 grades with the necessary skills to successfully enter the workforce.

The future for Grace and Charm is exciting and promising as a leader in the global market place.

For more information visit www.GraceandCharm.com.

Note: Walethia is one of WE Magazine for Women’s Top 100 Women in Ecommerce™ for 2012. To read about the other 99 women, visit (PDF): http://bit.ly/whoswho2012 or (turning page):http://bit.ly/wewhoswho2012

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Instead of waking up every morning and weighing yourself, forget the scale. Walk to the mirror, avoid the daily mine for imperfections, look into your eyes, and recite your praises: “I am beautiful, inside and out. I am strong, capable and intelligent.” Lift yourself up every day, and eventually, you won’t care how many dimples cling to your thighs.

Captain, My Captain: Enroll in a Women’s Studies Course. Discourse on topics that affect women is ongoing, so be apprised of academic studies that demonstrate how history, society, and laws affect the rights of women. Being informed provides you with effective tools necessary to combat misogyny and stereotypes. Why not start now? Ms. Magazine provides its own  Guide to Women’s Studies site.

Follow the Leader: Appropriate the regimen of successful women like Venus Williams or Danica Patrick. Take notes on what motivates them to succeed in male-dominated fields. Aside from passion, they pushed hard and came through as champions. Find your leader, learn her secrets, and apply them to your own personal and professional endeavors.

Do You Jiu-Jitsu?: Forget cardio-kickboxing and Zumba classes. For competence, confidence and strength, take self-defense classes that will physically empower you. For starters, Jiu-Jitsu trains you to fight on the ground, and Krav Maga concentrates on instinctive movements that focus on winning the battle with any attacker, no matter his size.

Bring It: Playing sports contributes to physical and mental well-being, teaches competition, enhances leadership skills, and generates positive energy that makes us feel happy and fulfilled. Challenge, compete, and train your brain and body by participating in volleyball, baseball, and lacrosse teams at your local YMCA. Or enter and run in a marathon. Whatever you do, play to win.

Don’t Believe the Hype: Resist gender stereotypes by taking on chores like mowing, edging and leaf-blowing, cleaning the gutters, fixing broken appliances and other tasks usually left to men. Enroll in a car mechanics course offered by your local College and learn how to change the oil and tires in your own vehicle. Car maintenance is a skill that everyone should possess.

Blog Power: Start a blog called “365 Days of Empowerment,” in which you post daily on acts of strength, power, your 2012 resolutions, and your abilities as an empowered woman. Measure your successes and pitfalls with acquiring new skills, resisting stereotypes, and redefining your power. Chronicle your passage towards a stronger, more confident, powerful you.

Marina DelVecchio is a writer and College Instructor on writing, research, and literary analysis. She is a contributing writer/book reviewer of feminist texts for Her Circle Ezine, and her work has been published at WE Magazine for Women, More.com, The New Agenda, the WM Parenting Connection, and the Huffington Post. Her article on violence against women will be published in Viewpoints, a college anthology in February 2012.

WE Magazine is delighted to announce our newest AWARD – The Top 100 Who’s Who Among Women in Ecommerce™ for 2012!

Imagine being in a room full of 100 of the top women doing business on the web! And being able to chat with them and find out what makes them tick (or click), why they do what they do, and do it so well, they are considered role models in their industry. Well, maybe you will never get the chance to meet each one of these face to face, but you can connect with them in a way that only a few short years ago we could not. Via the vastness, unending universe known as the internet. In fact you can have access to any of these women with the simple click of a mouse!

You can reach out to Charly Leetham in Australia, Linda Pereira in Portugal, Daisy Wright in Canada, Debbie O’Connor in the UK, Gisele Rufer in Switzerland and several women across the United States.

There are 100 Women in Ecommerce™ who represent their industries and professions as artists, astrologers, authors, internet marketers, photographers, coaches, consultants, manufacturers, clothing designers, inventors, event planners, personal trainers and everything in between.

Some of the women have been in business for more than 20 years and others as few as two years. And what does each of these women have in common? They all promote their products and services on the Internet. Successfully.

According to Susan Ward of About.com, “Ecommerce (or e-commerce) is the art and science of selling products and/or services over the Internet.”

And art and science it is! You have to be a creative person to get people to pay attention to you online and you have to balance that with the science of self-promotion or hire experts to do it for you.

In all, we have gathered 100 women who WE believe truly represent doing business on the WEB.

They are (drum roll please): 

Nan Akasha, Betty Audish, Walethia Aquil, Wendy Y. Bailey, Ruthi Backenroth, Leesa Barnes, Melanie Benson Strick, Cathy Berger, Stacy Blackman, Toby Bloomberg, Ali Brown, Holly Buchanan, Karla Brandau, Rosana Santos Calambichis, Anita Campbell, Heidi Caswell, Stephanie Chandler, Claudette Chenevert, Shannon Cherry, Lorraine Cohen, Myriam Cohen, Danna Crawford, Louise Crooks, Debra J. “Debbie” Cunningham, Baeth Davis, Faith M. Davis, Nicole Dean, Elena del Valle, Marla Dennis, Jody DeVere, Yvonne DiVita, Sally Falkow, Andrea Feinberg, Dale Filhaber, Kelli Fox, Stacy Francis, Kathleen Gage, Rosalind Gardner, Sabrina Gibson, Eva Gregory, Christine Guld, Donna Gunter, Penny Haynes, Sandee Hemphill, Jessica Herrin, Rebecca Herwick, Angie Hicks, Linda Hollander, Kyra Howell, Mary Clare Hunt, Kristina Jaramillo, Marilyn Jenett, Nancy Juetten, Lorrie Kazan, Simone Kelly, Jessica Kizorek, Donna Kozik, Lisa Ann Krutzik, Charly Leetham, Diane MacEachern, Beverly Mahone, Nancy Marmolejo, Allison Maslan, Alexis Maybank, Shari McConahay, Sheri McConnel, Fay McLean, Stephanie Mulac, Marie Myers, Andrea R. Nierenberg, Cindy O’Connor, Debbie O’Connor, Kelly O’Neil, Maritza Parra, Michele Pariza Wacek, Linda Pereira, Lisa Marie Platske, Ana Poirier, Rev. Anne Presuel, Morgana Rae, Giselle Rufer, Kerri Salls, Kate Sanner, Lisa Sasevich, Katrina Sawa, Michele Scism, Lynn Scheurell, Beth Schneider, Colleen Slater, Felicia Slattery, Faith Smith, Susan Wilson Solovic, Sheryl Stanton, Kendall SummerHawk, Karen Talavera, Ivana Taylor, Lynn Terry, Tracy Terry, Denise Wakeman, Maureen Whitehouse, Carrie Wilkerson, Alexandra Wilkis, and Daisy Wright!

You can read their stories in the latest edition of WE Magazine for Women (along with some great articles on doing business on the WEB). Here is the link to the Turning page (FLIP) version: http://wemagazineforwomen.com/pdfs/WhosWhoRelease2012.pdf

For the PDF version click on the cover or visit: http://bit.ly/whoswho2012

Please join me in congratulating the 2012 Who’s Who Among Women in Ecommerce™. Click on their links, visit their sites and offer your own personal congratulations! Special thanks to all our advertisers, those returning and those who have joined us for the first time. Because of their support, WE have been able able to provide you with great content and the amazing women WE continue to showcase on our site and in our magazine (since 2006).

Warmest regards,

Heidi Richards Mooney, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

ps. There are so many amazing women who do business online that this was one of the most challenging lists WE magazine has EVER had to create.  If you know someone who should be included in a future Who’s Who list, be sure and leave a comment below so we can add her to our potential candidates! And of course, self-nominations are welcome too!

WE Magazine for Women™ and Women in Ecommerce™ are getting ready to publish our Prestigious Award for Women – The 2011 Who’s Who List of Women in Ecommerce™.

To be considered for the list, you must be a woman who has been doing business online for a minimum of two years from the date of submission.

101 Women will be chosen in the 2011 Who’s Who List of Women in Ecommerce™ issue of WE Magazine (publication date November 15th 2011). All entries who meet our criteria will be considered FINALISTS and included in a supplemental list awards for women after the 101 Women are announced!

For more information and to submit your company to this award for women, visit: http://wemagazineforwomen.com/women/whos-who-in-ecommerce/

ABOUT WOMEN IN ECOMMERCE:

Women in Ecommerce™ is The Network for Women that Increases Your Local AND Global Visibility and Influence!

Since 2001 Women in Ecommerce™ has been the “hub” for women and organizations looking for online opportunities to grow business, start a business and/or take your business to the “next” level. Representing the professional interests of millions of women around the globe, Women in Ecommerce™ is working daily to open the doors to networking, business development and leadership opportunities.

Our mission is to “Help YOU do MORE Business on and off the WEB™”

For more information about Women in Ecommerce™, visit http://www.WECAI.org.

Eight Ways Stressed Out Women Can Revive and Renew—Mind, Body, and Soul

In today’s chaotic world, it’s easy for women to feel burned out, beaten down, and depleted. According to Vickie Milazzo, though, taking time to strategically renew yourself will go a long way toward helping you to reclaim the excitement and energy that will enable you to thrive instead of just survive.

You’re a modern woman…which means you’re barely surviving. You work yourself to the bone for ever-diminishing returns, thanks to the rising cost of everything from gas to food to health insurance. Meanwhile, you serve as cook, maid, shrink, tutor, and handyman at home. When life’s little “emergencies” crop up—a broken water heater, a toothache, a parent-teacher conference to discuss your son’s recent homework boycott—well, those land on your plate, too. No wonder you feel you’re one permission slip away from a complete breakdown!

And here’s the worst part: lately, the bar is so low you find yourself celebrating the mere fact that you survived another day. To be energized and fulfilled—well, that’s so far at the top of your hierarchy of needs that you can’t even see it for the cloud cover.

Women should not accept this state of stressed-out existence and call it living, insists Vickie Milazzo. You can lead a successful life and cultivate a wellspring of energy that will renew your mind, body, and soul every day—but first you’ve got to give yourself a break.

“Today’s woman has taken on an extreme life crammed to overflowing with commitments and responsibility,” observes Milazzo, author of the new book Wicked Success Is Inside Every Woman (Wiley, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-1181-0052-3, $21.95, WickedSuccess.com). “It’s not possible to stretch yourself to the breaking point every day and not break.

“You wouldn’t expect a battery to keep going forever without recharging it, and you shouldn’t expect it of yourself either,” she adds. “Women need to learn to revitalize their minds, bodies, emotions, and spirits frequently, so that they’ll have abundant energy whenever they need it.”

Milazzo suggests that women try to look objectively at their lives and routines, as though they were happening to a good friend. What advice would you give her?

“You’d probably tell this ‘friend’ to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and spend a few minutes doing something enjoyable before the next day and its demands come crashing in,” Milazzo guesses. “You know that this advice is sound, too…so listen.”

Milazzo speaks from experience. After working (overtime) for six years as a registered nurse, in 1982 she faced the reality that she was unsatisfied with her career, financially strapped, and burned out across the board.

“I realized that if I wanted to thrive instead of just survive, the first thing I needed to do was cultivate a fulfilling relationship with myself,” she recalls. “Yes, I know that it might seem impossible to take even one moment out of your overscheduled life, but I promise you that it can be done. Too often, our own behaviors and habits sabotage us and prevent us from taking the renewal steps we need for restoration, causing us to slip further and further into the desperate state we’re trying to escape.”

The fact is, every woman needs to renew and refuel her body, feelings, mind, and spirit on a regular basis, so that she can reflect on what’s important and maintain perspective and equilibrium. And with habitual rejuvenation, promises Milazzo, you’ll be able to complete your daily tasks while having the energy to pursue your big goals and passions…and still have some vigor left over for great sex!

Read on for eight of Milazzo’s tried-and-true suggestions to help you renew yourself in the midst of your manic life:

Plan for renewal. With days, weeks, and months that are packed full of responsibility, you can’t exactly head to the spa, to the nearest mountain for a hike, or to wherever you go to relax and reflect on a moment’s notice. (Heck, you can’t even paint your own toenails in the bathroom without being interrupted!) So if you want to renew your energy, you’re going to have to schedule time for relaxation just as systematically as you would plan to complete a long-term project at work. If you keep waiting for the right moment to kick back and smell the roses, it’ll never happen because life will get in the way.

“Remember, what gets scheduled gets done,” Milazzo shares. “If renewal time is really a priority for you, it will be on your calendar. Period. So you need to make sure that no one—including you—overbooks your time. Over the years, I have learned to schedule everything from vacations to massages to daily quiet time and exercise in my planner. I have also learned that what you’re striving for shouldn’t be a balanced day, but a balanced life. For example, if I know I’m about to take a totally unplugged vacation, I’m willing to work some 14-hour days beforehand. The key is to feel that you are in control of your life instead of the other way around.”

Renew physically. While many of us would like to think that frequent trips through the drive-through don’t have that much of an ill effect, the truth is that these empty calories have a negative impact on our short- and long-term health. The same goes for poor sleep and insufficient exercise. Look honestly at your eating, fitness, and resting habits. Are they helping or hurting? If it’s the latter, you need to know that it’s not only your body that’s affected; your productivity, energy, creativity, and motivation will also take a hit.

“Physical health is necessary for any kind of success, because increased energy opens up all kinds of doors,” Milazzo asserts. “There’s no need to make a ton of drastic changes all at once, but over time you do need to shoot for a balanced, nutritious diet, regular exercise, and—of course!—the chance to relax with a massage, a facial, or a soak in the tub. No matter how smart you are or how much potential you have, you’ll never get anywhere if your body is sluggish and running on empty.”

Renew emotionally. These days there’s certainly more than enough to worry about: healthcare, cutbacks at work, your dwindling bank account, the price of gas…the list goes on. It’s easy to spend all of your energy fretting and contingency planning. Sooner or later, though, you’ll hit emotional rock bottom (if you haven’t already), and you’ll go through life bitter, put-upon, and exhausted. Plus, if you don’t renew emotionally, you’re likely to overreact or underreact to various situations, which will only multiply the number of things you have to fret about! To avoid this fate, you need to allow your emotions to recover and be uplifted on a regular basis.

“If you barrel through life with an unhealthy sense of urgency, you will never enjoy anything,” says Milazzo. “You must learn to enjoy the moment and cultivate calm, not always be pushing. Whether you plan a vacation, have a cup of tea, or go on a walk, think of being kind to yourself as a necessity, not a luxury. Allow yourself to get away from it all from time to time so that when you re-enter the fray, you’ll have freshly buoyed emotions to sustain you.”

Renew spiritually. All other types of renewal will be temporary fixes unless you have a deep-seated sense of serenity within you to draw upon. Spiritual discipline is definitely a journey, not a destination, but its benefits are peace, calm, and enlightenment. Figure out what works for you, whether it’s meditation, prayer, study, service, or something else, and incorporate it into your routine. Just a few “time-out” moments at the beginning and end of each day can make a significant impact.

“Spiritual renewal is important for me, because I don’t want to accumulate worldly success and still wonder if ‘this’ is it,” Milazzo explains. “Spiritual renewal looks different for everyone, but I think an important component of it is to quiet down and reflect on who you want to be and what is really important. Doing this will give you lasting perspective and will help you to realize and remember just how precious a gift life is.”

Renew mentally. Most of us never stop to consider how often we feed our minds less-than-healthy fuel. Whether it’s reality TV, bad romance novels, talk radio, or Farmville, the activities we pursue in our downtime often don’t renew our energy (and may even deplete it). No, you don’t have to read scholarly articles and watch educational documentaries every day, but it is important to throw some thought-provoking activities into the mix. Consider visiting a museum, gallery, or arboretum that you normally pass by, or try your hand at something creative like painting or writing.

“What you feed your mind influences your thoughts, attitude, and energy,” points out Milazzo. “You need mental energy to be creative and to make good decisions. You don’t have to give up ‘junk’ entirely—in fact, I find that reading a frivolous book every now and then is kind of like indulging in a buttery bag of popcorn—but make sure that you’re also watching, reading, and experiencing new, challenging, and inspirational things. And the best part is, you don’t have to carve any more free time out of your day. Just imagine what you could learn and accomplish in the time it takes to watch a sitcom or two!”

Celebrate to intensify renewal. Think about it: life without celebration would be one long stream of to-do lists, thankless tasks, and mindless drudgery. When you accomplish a goal or pass a milestone—big or small—it’s smart to take a little time to celebrate your success. Even thirty seconds of allowing joy to bubble up inside you can act as a great pick-me-up and keep burnout at bay.

“You need to experience satisfaction when you reach your objectives, so make a habit of celebrating each success,” Milazzo reiterates. “When you acknowledge the little things, the big goals also seem more attainable. For example, just being considered for a promotion is worthy of self-congratulations. Even if things don’t work out as you hoped they would, you can still celebrate your willingness to step out into the unknown.”

Renew with the people you love. Have you ever noticed that we often work ourselves to the bone to benefit the people we love…and end up rarely spending time with them as a result? No, you can’t blow off all work and responsibilities, but make sure that close relationships stay at the top of your priority list. The fact is, since life and love don’t happen in a vacuum, surrounding yourself with people you love guarantees you more positive experiences.

“When you cultivate strong relationships of all kinds, you will create memories, and you will not have to face anything alone,” Milazzo says. “Plus, women in particular are wired to connect, so when you schedule date nights and girls’ nights, take part in traditions, and create memories, you’ll be more fulfilled. Also, responsibilities, tough times, and problems that need to be overcome don’t seem nearly as overwhelming when you have a team of friends and loved ones on your side!”

Renew by giving back. The phrase “giving back” often conjures up the mental image of a wealthy philanthropist writing sizeable checks to various charities and organizations. No wonder many of us don’t consider ourselves to be givers—we’re more focused on making sure that our own accounts aren’t overdrawn! However, giving doesn’t have to mean cracking open your wallet—time, mentoring others, or giving spiritual or emotional support are all just as valuable.

“Giving is a gratifying and renewing act because it disconnects you from yourself and your own problems, creating fresh perspective,” Milazzo asserts. “I’ve found, for example, that when I extend encouragement—even if it’s just a quick ‘Thinking about you!’ text message, I receive that same gift back abundantly in my own life. When you live selflessly, you will attract genuine relationships, unconditional support, and lasting respect…and you’ll also leave behind a positive legacy that you can be proud of.”

“Ultimately, taking the time to renew yourself will give you the energy and capacity to enjoy the life you were blessed with—even in the midst of tough times,” Milazzo concludes. “Remember that it’s okay, and even encouraged, to take care of yourself. While periodic and strategic renewal won’t get rid of all your problems, it will lighten your load and help you to remain solid in the midst of the chaos.”

About the Author: Vickie Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD, is author of Wicked Success Is Inside Every Woman. From a shotgun house in New Orleans to owner of a $16-million business, Wall Street Journal best-selling author Milazzo shares the innovative suc¬cess strategies that earned her a place on the Inc. list of Top 10 Entrepre¬neurs and Inc. Top 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies in America.

Vickie is the owner of Vickie Milazzo Institute, an education company she founded in 1982. Featured in the New York Times as the pioneer of a new profession, she built a professional association of 5,000 members. Vickie was rec¬ognized as the Most Innovative Small Business by Pitney Bowes’s Priority magazine and received Susan G. Komen’s Hope Award for Ambassadorship. Author, educator, and nationally acclaimed speaker, this multimillionaire entrepreneur shares her vast experience with thousands of women.

The social revolution has brought a renewed focus to doing business organically. Today corporations and small businesses alike are using the powers of collaboration, participation, innovation, and engagement to win the attention of empowered consumers. These qualities, says author Vickie Milazzo, are at the heart of what women do best. She explains why today’s women are primed for success and what they can do to take advantage of these growing opportunities.

Despite status quo statistics—women earn 75 percent of what men earn; women hold only 15 percent of C-level positions in the U.S.—and a challenging economy, the almost-constant changes to the way we communicate, interact, innovate, and do business today are setting up an opportunity-filled future for women. Why? Because the qualities that are valued in today’s socially driven culture—participation, engagement, collaboration, relationship-building, an appreciation for the greater good—come naturally to most women, points out Vickie Milazzo. She says women simply have to be willing to reach out and grab the coming opportunities.

“Inside every woman are the skills and forces necessary for being successful today,” says Milazzo, author of the new book Wicked Success Is Inside Every Woman. “Ninety percent of success is showing up. Whether you’re selling an idea, trying to land a new job, or learning to paint, the bottom line is that you have to show up. Women today have to be up to the task of inserting themselves into the big picture.”

Unfortunately, many of the same societal barriers that have blocked women for years continue to be in place. A recent report from McKinsey Quarterly listed four main barriers cited by those surveyed: structural obstacles—a lack of networks and role models for women; lifestyle issues—an aversion to the 24/7 nature of corporate leadership; imbedded institutional mindsets; and imbedded individual mindsets. In response to these challenges, the report notes, many women simply temper their expectations. Instead of going after a promotion, they stay in their current position or make a lateral move to a different company.

Naturally, Milazzo wants to end this tendency. She encourages women to look within and use their innate qualities to be successful, qualities that have never been more relevant than now with the rise in social networking and the changes it’s bringing to the way we do business.

Read on for a few feminine factors that make women primed to succeed in the social revolution and how you can take advantage of them:

Women aren’t afraid to take action. Whether it’s getting worldwide attention for a new product through a viral video, building support for an important cause through Twitter, or using Facebook to report a nation’s revolution, there’s no denying that social media has made taking action easier than ever before. “Successful women know how and when to take action,” says Milazzo. “They know that success is not about what you do when the road ahead is golden and every dip and turn smoothes your way. It’s about how you respond when you hit the biggest, nastiest roadblock of all time. By taking action every day, you develop the habits and discipline to make your vision a reality. When you focus not just on the idea but on making it happen, you stay in motion, not merely dreaming your passions but living them.”

Women aren’t afraid to ask for help. Be it through message boards, questions posted on Facebook, or informative YouTube videos, much of what makes social media so appealing is its capacity to help us help each other. And because women have often had to fight for everything they’ve achieved in the business world, helping each other has become a common practice.

“I pioneered the industry of legal nurse consulting, so there was no one to teach me how to do what I set out to do,” says Milazzo. “Yet I didn’t feel alone. I gathered the biggest CEOs and successful business owners in the country—at least those who’d written a book—and devoured everything I could find about launching a business. I became a successful student of business strategy for life. Some of the best advice I received when I started my business was ‘Vickie, you will encounter many challenges you will not know how to handle. But there’s always someone out there who has already successfully handled that very challenge.’ Intelligent women know what they don’t know and when to seek answers. Smart women appreciate that what works today won’t necessarily work tomorrow, and aggressive learning is a competitive advantage to achieving any desired goal.”

Women know how to trust their intuition. The concept that women are more in touch with instinctive inner guidance is so intrinsic to our culture that most people (even men) accept it without expecting any scientific explanation. On the side of science, the larger splenium of the corpus callosum accounts for greater interconnectivity between the left and right hemispheres of women’s cognitive brains. Some scientists believe this broader connection enables women to access both sides faster and easier than men. Women are not more “right-brained,” as is the myth; their brain functions are actually more holistic and generalized. Women fluently engage the limbic brain, where higher emotions are stored, and the instinctive brain, which is responsible for self-preservation. This holistic combination of emotion, instinct, and cognition equates to women’s intuition.

“Many of our social interactions are driven by intuition,” notes Milazzo. “We can instinctively sense if we should or shouldn’t ask a friend why she’s upset or whether to continue a conversation that is heading down the wrong path. Does it make sense to have such an extraordinary tool and not use it? Not in my book. By trusting my intuition, I created a new industry where a void formerly existed. My intuition told me lawyers needed nurses, even if they didn’t know it yet themselves. If anyone ever tells you one person can’t accomplish anything big, or you shouldn’t go against the odds, don’t believe it. Intuition worked for me. And it will work for you. It all starts with your intuitive vision.”

Women are great relationship-builders. Most women want to give their all to every relationship they have, be it with a coworker, significant other, child, family member, friend, client, etc.—and when they can’t, they often feel guilty. Our complex society of family, friends, career, and spiritual and social obligations constantly pulls us in different directions. Social media adds yet another layer of complexity, and our always-on devices give us instant access to the world via email, texting, and Skype, but they also give the world instant access to us. Opportunities to commit bombard us at every turn. For many women, it leads them to over-commit in relationships, but when tempered to a manageable scale, this willingness to build relationships sets women up for great success today.

“When you’re in pursuit of a great opportunity, one source you can count on for harvesting more energy is positive relationships,” says Milazzo. “We all know at least one person who lifts our spirits and makes us feel more alive. It might be your mother, your spouse, a good friend, your children, or, if you’re truly fortunate, all of them. Surround yourself with positive relationships, especially with those who support your passions, and you will be eternally rechargeable.”

Women are natural multi-taskers. How many things can you do at once? How many things can your spouse or significant other do at once? Chat up any group of women with a variety of talents, emotions, and intelligence and you’ll find most of them are juggling a dozen different projects, a handful of important relationships, and at least one pressing dilemma. Women excel at multi-tasking—a true leg up in a world that is constantly asking us to do more, more, more.

“Flexible and adaptable, women handle unexpected change gracefully,” says Milazzo. “We’re not thrown by 10 things hitting us at once—that won’t wreck our day. We’re wired for agility. Hand a woman an iPhone and you turn her into a captain of high-tech industry. She’ll set appointments, answer email, snap and send photos to friends and family, update Facebook, arrange a party, make dinner reservations, and text her husband to pick up the dry cleaning. We’ve learned to bend technology to fit our needs and increase our agility for handling more complex situations at increasingly higher and faster levels.”

Women know how to collaborate. The rising use of Wikis and other collaborative software indicates the rapid acceptance of a growing need to share knowledge, ideas, and energies. Office technology has advanced to provide a platform for sharing, reviewing, editing, and completely rethinking documents or graphics. Documents that were passed around in brown office envelopes from desk to desk for sign-off can be accessed by workers anywhere there’s a computer. As our workforce has gone global, software has permeated the vacuum created when we are unable to meet simultaneously.

“It’s only when we come together and engage in conversation that we raise new questions and think of possibilities at a collective level we would not have considered on our own,” notes Milazzo. “Collaboration is not just connecting with people. It’s also an attitude of helpfulness. Wickedly successful women know that playing nice is a sign of strength. Inside every woman is a natural collaborator. That’s a wicked advantage we have as women, an intellectual edge we can leverage for using our genius at the highest possible level.”

Women know the importance of mutual support. Fusion occurs when you merge diverse, distinct, or separate elements into a unified whole. More and more that is exactly what is happening in our highly connected global society. Women, it seems, benefit from this connectedness more than men. According to a landmark UCLA study on managing stress, the bonds women form with each other also benefit their health and longevity. The hormone oxytocin, enhanced by estrogen and released as part of their stress response, encourages them to gather with other women. The bond that forms helps to fill emotional gaps and lowers the risk of early death. Men experiencing stress go into a fight-or-flight response. Women’s broader response system may explain why they consistently outlive men.

“When women come together and share their passions, visions, experiences, fears, and promises, an amazing bond occurs,” says Milazzo. “From that bond emerge sparks of brilliance and insight that none of these women alone, or in any other combination, could have inspired. Female fusion is a truly powerful force.”

Women understand the power of giving. Milazzo writes that one of her favorite things about social media is that within seconds you can lift up a person’s day, and in doing so lift yours up too.

“One of my best friends will often Facebook, text, or leave me quick voicemail messages reminding me she’s thinking about me,” says Milazzo. “She always ends them with ‘Love you.’ I get a big smile from each one. She makes my day.

“Giving does not always mean pulling out your wallet. Time is a valuable gift. Mentoring is a valuable gift. Spiritual or emotional support is a valuable gift. Sending a person positive thoughts costs nothing and benefits you as much as the people you’re thinking about. If there’s something you want more of, give it away. If you want more money, encouragement, or love, give it today and you will receive it tomorrow, but not necessarily from the people you give it to. It comes through other manifestations. By giving back, I have received more abundance in every aspect of my life than I ever dreamed possible.”

In her book, Milazzo writes about an East African tribe that became famous for its rain dances because they were 100 percent successful. Members of rival tribes with low to mediocre success rates jealously theorized that the tribe had better dancers, special steps, more powerful chants, or more sincere prayers, or that their costumes, feathered accoutrements, and masks made the difference. Finally, they claimed it was simply luck that made the gods smile on that one fortunate tribe but not on their own.

After observing the “lucky” tribe’s practices, an anthropologist uncovered the secret to their success rate. He was surprised that it was so simple. They had no special powers, no magical interventions. They simply danced their rain dance until it rained.

“They never quit, never gave in to their exhaustion, and never grew despondent over how long it took for the rain to come,” notes Milazzo. “They expected it would always rain when they danced, and their experience supported their belief. They just kept dancing, knowing that sooner or later the gods would be satisfied and reward their persistence with rain. Rewarded they were—every single time.

“This is one of the most basic and simple secrets to wicked success,” she concludes. “It’s always easier to quit the dance but much more rewarding to dance on. And that’s what most of us women have been doing for centuries. We’ve fought for everything we’ve achieved. Now, as the world becomes more and more flat, as consumers become more engaged in the way companies do business, as diversity programs open doors for more women and minorities, it’s about to start raining. To take advantage, you simply need to have the wherewithal to keep dancing and go for your wicked success.”

About the Author: Vickie Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD, is author of Wicked Success Is Inside Every Woman. From a shotgun house in New Orleans to owner of a $16-million business, Wall Street Journal best-selling author Milazzo shares the innovative suc¬cess strategies that earned her a place on the Inc. list of Top 10 Entrepre¬neurs and Inc. Top 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies in America.

Vickie is the owner of Vickie Milazzo Institute, an education company she founded in 1982. Featured in the New York Times as the pioneer of a new profession, she built a professional association of 5,000 members. Vickie was rec¬ognized as the Most Innovative Small Business by Pitney Bowes’s Priority magazine and received Susan G. Komen’s Hope Award for Ambassadorship. Author, educator, and nationally acclaimed speaker, this multimillionaire entrepreneur shares her vast experience with thousands of women.

By Jennifer Maggio

Since I’m writing to a group of single parents, I figured we needed to go ahead and put this one out there – OFFENSE. Man, oh man, how I sprint to avoid bitter and offended folks! This may be hard for some to hear, but your hurt, your offense, your bitterness, and your unforgivness does nothing to THEIR lives. It does not hurt your ex-mother-in-law, your ex-husband, or your ex-boyfriend. In fact, they’ve probably forgotten what they did to offend you in the first place.

In having counseled literally hundreds of single moms, I can tell you that I have never sat with one mom who didn’t have a reason to be angry or hurt – not one. They all have a story. We all have a story.

I was astonished to recently stumble upon a single parent’s site that promoted “Tell-us-why-you-hate-your-baby’s-daddy Day”. Are you kidding me?! Am I the only one that sees the insanity in this?! What do you hope to accomplish? So…………..we paint little George’s daddy as a complete loser for not paying you child support or for beating you or whatever (albeit horrible things), then………. what? Who does it hurt? Let me answer this for you. YOU. It hurts you. For every time you relive the pain and revisit the conversations or the events that devastated you, you live in that moment.   It’s amazing that we sometimes cannot remember where we parked after a 15-minute grocery trip to Walmart, but we can remember for the next 15 years the exact conversation where someone offended us!

Your offense, bitterness, and unforgiveness holds you hostage. It’s what you wake up smelling like and the aroma you give off when others pass you by. If you are taking every opportunity to bash your ex, stop! Your children will appreciate it. Let go. Forgive. And, yes, that means you.

And this is not an opinion, it is a God thing. Ephesians 4:31 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” NLT.

You may be thinking, “But you don’t know what I’ve been through!” Single parents, I’ve had the deadbeat dad scenario in my own life. I’ve had the abuse. I’ve had the poverty. If anyone can play the victim role, it’s me! I choose to live life to its fullest. I choose to forgive every travesty that has been done to me. I made a choice that as for me and my household, we will rejoice and be glad in today alone. My past does not define my future. And there’s great freedom in that.

Author/Speaker, Jennifer Maggio, is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on single parent issues. She currently runs one of the naton’s largest single mom support groups and has helped to launch similar programs around the globe. She is a regular on television and radio. Her first book, Overwhelmed: The Life of a Single Mom, was met with fast success. For more information, visit http://www.thelifeofasinglemom.com.

Meet Sharon Marie Cline,  Woman in Jazz and MORE!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in music.

I grew up listening to great music. My mother used to play recordings every afternoon when I came home from school… and on Saturdays while we did our chores. So the house was always filled with the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, the Great Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, Nancy Wilson and so many great icons performing the rich and colorful songs of the American Song book… I never asked my mother why she loved that music so

I guess, ‘cuz I didn’t need to. It was obvious: the music filled your heart, caressed your soul… No matter what mood you were in it touched you right where you were… and made whatever mundane task (you may be engaging in) suddenly a new adventure thru the journey of the song…. As a child, I fell in love with this music…. These songs inspired my imagination to create so many stories sparked by the emotion of the songs, the poignancy of the lyrics and the heart with which they were performed…. I was Flyin’ to The Moon with Frank, I was swingin’ on a star with Ella, took the A Train some days with Ellington’s crew and some days with Anita O Day and had no idea where it’d take me… But boy, was I onboard!!!!! The music stirred my passion and my imagination, even as a child, and I just knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. And I knew I wanted to do whatever I had to do to do it well. So, I studied hard and I practiced hard.

I was quiet as a child. Introspective… and my mother introduced me to music and theatre as a way to draw me out… as an outlet for the deep expression that I guess she knew was inside me… I’ve always felt things deeply… She was very wise to give me such a wonderful tool to express my passion. My music heals me constantly and it makes me giddy constantly… and I like to pass that soothing, joyful gift on to others as often as I can.

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place? What was the inspiration for your company/project?

I love jazz in particular because it truly is a collaborative art that requires interplay on every level– between each musician…. Between audience and band…between the individual musician and their soul’s expression… between lyric and melody for vocal jazz and melody and harmony for all jazz. Every song, every time it is performed is a new extraordinary creation of art… I love that! I love being a part of the creative process this way!

I may sing the same song every night…. But it is NEVER the same because I am authentically present each time I sing. I first listen to my being and what I am called to express, then I listen to my fellow musician, what they are offering musically in the moment, I feel my response and what that creates and then I offer my next expression and on and on…. Jazz is very improvisational in that way. Though there is wonderful structure, there is room for great freedom… of expression.

Also, one of the beautiful things about music is that it is so powerful! It communicates on levels beyond words…. I’ve watched people transform in front of my eyes while we perform. Someone may come in in a bad mood, down on life, heavy with burden, and as they hear the music, their load lightens… even if just for a minute. It’s so extraordinary! And so fun to witness!

There’s also a kind of common language between musicians in jazz… That makes you feel very communal. You can get up on the bandstand with virtual strangers you just met off the street and make beautiful music together as if you had been playing together your entire life. We just connect thru our love and appreciation for the music.

I also own my own business as a music contractor, Jazz Celebrations… Meaning I supply high quality live music for special events… Whether it be a wedding –ceremony or reception, retirement party, art exhibit, a grand awards ceremony or an intimate dinner party. I provide the music for the event. I call it the Live Sound Track for life’s Special Occasions. Through my business, I can keep a lot of very talented musicians working and sharing their talent and provide clients with professional quality concert level music… literally in their own living room! Though Jazz Celebrations specializes in all styles of jazz from Dixieland and Speakeasy jazz to Big Band Swing to Latin Jazz to Contemporary Jazz, I can provide most any style of music for a party. I like to meet with the client, discuss their vision for the party and design the music for their event from there.

What has been the most profound result being a musician specifically a women in Jazz?

The most profound experience for me as a musician is the impact and joy music brings to people’s lives. I love being consciously aware of that interconnectedness we all have. Recently, we performed at a convalescent VA hospital in Westwood, CA. As we began to play the old familiar songs of the patients’ childhood, it brought such joy to their faces… and I swear, they got younger and healthier before my eyes… I love taking them back to their joy! It is so beautiful to watch someone remember a special time… It’s an honor to be a part of that remembrance.

I get to meet extraordinary people, perform in beautiful often breathtaking environments, wear amazing clothes… beautiful gowns, and jewelry…. Really get to express what its like to feel like a goddess or diva or queen, like every woman should get to feel  …. When I do private events, I get to share in people’s most precious special occasions and hopefully leave them with a beautiful memory thru the music we’ve shared.

As a female bandleader, I get to exhibit leadership in a very feminine way… through cooperation and thru accentuating the strengths of each of my band members. We truly are co creatively working together and as I respect each member of my team, I encourage them to be the best they can be for me ,for themselves and for our client. We all respect each other.

As a business owner, I make sure my musicians are treated well, paid well, respected and are respectful and most importantly, I make sure we leave our clients smiling… I’m like the mama of the event… Well, maybe the big sister of the event!

Tell us about any new projects you have coming up (or recently completed).

Right now, I am working on a new album entitled, “This Is Where I Wanna Be”. I’m hoping to release it this summer. The songs I’m choosing for the album are all songs of romance– Lush, flirty, content, sensual, dreamy, Heart Nouriishing… That is Where I Wanna Be…

The songs range from brazilian jazz of Jobim to ]the whistful sentient of Gershwin standards and then the more rhythmic soulful groove of Ivan Lins’ “Love Dance”. I’m excited about this album… It’s a feel good record!

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?

I think as an artist, we are always overcoming our self doubt and we are always taking the risk to bear our souls and individuality. It’s not always easy to do what you love just because you love it and believe in it when it isn’t paying the bills and every one tries to get you to conform and jump on the bandwagon of whatever popular trend is leading the day that is much more lucrative. Not everyone encourages this music. And many people have tried to tell me different ways I need to perform to be more current and “marketable” to main stream America. I have fought hard to be true to myself and really take the time to find my own voice within this genre… and it’s developing more everyday…. I’m glad I didn’t listen to others and hang it up for R&B or Pop… And I have taken the time to really embody the music I sing and I sing these old standards my way… And people are moved by the purity of that. But it was a risk… and I have to keep reassuring myself that I am on the right track for me as an artist.

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?

I call my mentors– Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O Day, Chet Baker, Barbra Steisand, Diana Krall, Shirley Horn…. But there are many many current artists I draw upon for inspiration. There is so much amazing talent out there… Some are unknown names, but big talent. I listen to a lot people. Vocalists and instrumentalists.

What do you do to keep yourself sharp? What one thing have you done in the past year that has made a significant difference in your life/your business?

I practice, I go out and listen to other artists, I listen to recordings of my musical mentors, I take workshops that challenge me as a performer, as a musician…. I keep learning and absorbing. I am an eternal student. And I have curiosity…. And I want to keep growing as an artist.

I also know how to nurture myself. I feel that is important as an artist. To not only feed myself with knowledge and music but to take care of myself as a person and care for my being. After all, as a vocalist, I am my instrument. So, staying tuned means, I eat well, I rest, I take time for my internal space, I exercise, I play, I laugh and I explore…..

What one thing would you like to learn this year?

How to get a distribution deal for my record!  And I want to just keep learning!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Making music, traveling the world performing in beautiful spots, singing with fantastic musicians, being critically recognized with a growing huge fan base, making sound tracks for movies, doing more interviews, exploring my craft even more deeply… Oh, and a grammy nomination would be nice too! 

What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?

I actually really know how to pamper myself…. I don’t know if I should admit that I get 1-2 massages a week… especially hour long foot massages… I take long hot bathes by candle light, go to the spa, get pedicures twice a month and walk on the beach as often as I can.(not too hard. I live a block fro the beach).

I meditate, spend quiet time a lot. It nourishes me and keeps me in touch with my inner muse and wisdom.

For fun: I love going to the movies… I go out to hear live theatre and live music, going to fun restaurants, traveling, and I love spending time with my family laughing!!!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I think I have babbled on enough!!! I love what I do. Like my facebook page says: My Heart Song is looking for greater and greater expression…

I’m ready world. Here I AM!!!!

What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you?

www.sharonmariecline.com

www.facebook.com/sharonmariecline

www.reverbnation.com/sharonclineandthebadboyzofjazz

www.myspace.com/sharonmarieclinemusic

NOTE: Sharon Marie Cline is one of 14 women in music that WE interviewed for the WE Magazine for Women in Music Spring 2011 Issue.  You can read more about these Women in music by visiting:  http://wemagazineforwomen.com/pdfs/2011WEMagSpring.pdf

Meet Melody Cole, Woman in Jazz Musician and More!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in music.

I remember trying to get up on the stool to play the piano at home. I was about 3. I began classical lessons at 5, and began actively playing at church, school, and for weddings by 9. My teen years helped me blossom as a musician one event in particular was being guest pianist with the Jamaica Philharmonic Orchestra at 15.

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?

I would just as readily say it chose me. I love the piano. Music is at the heart of me – a significant way in which I communicate and express myself. It speaks to me, and I speak through it. Simply, it is who and what I am, and what I do or be. My hand knows and loves the instrument (piano); I hear music and my soul sings.

When did you know you want to be a jazz musician?

I didn’t want to be jazz musician. I didn’t know there was such a thing as jazz music or a musician! I grew up in the church, studied and sat classical music exams annually, and never ever heard the word jazz, or the songs in my immediate world. I had never even been to a nightclub. But when a cousin of mine, Les Cole, who had traveled to the US for college returned one summer, he began showing me some beautiful chords and introduced me to this music called jazz! I just loved it! I wanted more of it in my music. I decided then that when I went to the US for college, I would explore jazz, and include it in my sound in the contemporary music of the church!

I really wanted to go to Berkely School of Music to learn more. So years later as President of the Atlanta Jazz Society, and a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators, I attended a dinner at the home of the President of Berkely (during the annual IAJE convention in Boston) I was immensely thrilled!

What is the first tune/song you learned?

I really don’t remember – maybe “Summertime.” But the first song I performed was “Oh Danny Boy.” I didn’t think at the time I knew any jazz pieces, but was determined to participate at the Barry Harris workshop/evening jam session in New York City during a visit I felt sure I could play “Danny Boy” and I did.

What is the most amazing thing that has happened to you on your musical journey?

Same evening at Barry Harris’, I took the risk to get up and play (deciding not to sit on the sand at the beach!) To my surprise, I got a standing ovation – big risk, BIG surprise!!! Although I had just begun the journey, I felt validated as an artist and welcomed. These are all beautiful points in my musical journey: to become President of the Atlanta Jazz Society and to really begin expanding into the world of jazz and meeting and becoming friends with some of the jazz greats, and to meet and have as fellow musicians some of the most fabulous gifted musicians on the planet!! Wow! Indeed to have the opportunity and honor to play for the private reception for President Nelson Mandela in Atlanta in his first public appearance following his release from prison was a thrill. And to play with 11 other pianists simultaneously on stage with full orchestra in an Atlanta Steinway Society concert entitled “A Celebration of Faith” was another.

Who write your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?

I write songs with a lyric that inspire, and celebrate the spirit and gift of life.

I like to play and sing the music of other songwriters in what I call a musical collage – painting a picture from the use of the songs and their lyrics, to see a bigger picture! I look forward to continuing to grow and expand with other musicians and songwriters who want to raise the consciousness of our communities and the planet through music.

What is the typical day in the life of a musician?

Oh, I don’t know. It’s so very personal. I come from a big family and we all love music, and each of our lives is sooo very different! I think it makes for interesting harmony though! Us being different “typical”! The sky is really the limit for the artist.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?

Biggest obstacle! My hands went into breakdown after a contracted engagement performing 4-5 hours daily (without breaks – well almost!). In addition, my enthusiasm to quickly add more tunes to my repertoire had me practicing for hours more. There was a big world of music out there, and I was trying to access as much of it as I could! This ongoing repetitive action brought tremendous stress to the muscles and tendons, in arms neck and shoulders. One day my hands just felt like I had taken them and stuck them in an electric socket! Yikes!! And for years, I was on hold … with lots of prayers, committed to healing, and patience. Hindsight: Adequate rest between sets, warm up exercises, as well as nutrition, is vital to hand health and stability for pianists. All artists need to be conscious of caring for their instrument – hand, voice. It was an aspect I’m pleased to say I overcame, and now have “experience” in!!

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?

I draw inspiration from God and life – when my heart feels most full and open.

Role models/mentors/teachers – the master teachers close to me who helped me grow and learn outside of what I was previously exposed to: Barry Harris (taught Master classes for pianists globally), Jimmy Owens (mentor and friend whose insight brought me to embrace my spirituality in music), Ted Johnson (who completely urged me to be authentic – myself always), Grant Reid (beautiful saxophonist who encouraged me to sing) and Ted Howe (whose brilliant guidance as a teacher was steady and clear, bridging my classical world to jazz).

What do you do to keep yourself sharp?

Listen, be open, and become a channel for the gift.

What one thing have you done in the past year that has made a significant difference in your life/your business?

Being grateful to be able to play with confidence, being open to joy, and recognizing that being fresh and authentic, is not necessarily being perfect!!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Bringing the healing/spiritual modality to the platform of my music, and blending with my art, to make a difference in the lives of others.

What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?

I now set time aside for fun – ping pong, pool, movies, and books – for now, low impact kinda fun!!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I welcome opportunities to share my gifts, love, and insights from this journey in the arts and music.

What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you?

colexpressions@yahoo.com

NOTE: Melody Cole is one of 14 women in music that WE interviewed for the WE Magazine for Women in Music Spring 2011 Issue.  You can read more about these Women in music by visiting:  http://wemagazineforwomen.com/pdfs/2011WEMagSpring.pdf