By Suzen Pettit

Not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to join a BNI (Business Networking International) group in my neighborhood, other than the idea of a networking group based solely on the idea of giving and receiving referrals, with none of the froo- froo attached to it, none of the dancing around….seemed so appealing. If you read my last post about my networking group challenges you’ll get what I’m talking about. So when my “Computer Troubleshooter” Rick Van Akin suggested that if I wanted to grow my business I should come to his BNI meeting just to “check it out” I thought, why not?

Little did I know at the time, or perhaps I just wasn’t listening, that the meetings began at 7 AM. AM? I thought he’d said PM. AM??? AM it was, and when I emailed the president to see just how formally attired I needed to be at 7 AM I was bummed out to hear that yoga pants were really not an option, unless of course I was a yoga instructor. I briefly considered switching careers. So I’d be lying if I said that I was ecstatic about attending my first meeting. Grumbling under my breath, I made it to the first meeting with seconds to spare, leaving my daughter to figure out how to get herself dressed, fed and to the school bus on her own. Third graders can do that in this country, can’t they? Kidding, she’s 11. Kidding again- she’s a teenager. Much more dangerous than a third grader.

That being said, and much to my surprise, I was blown away by the meeting. Seriously. I filled out an application and interviewed for the group, after my second visit. You’re only allowed 2 visits before having to decide, and even then there’s an application process.

Here’s my top 6 reasons why I joined the Super 7 BNI and you should join one too:

1. They mean business. And I mean business. They aren’t kidding about giving and receiving referrals. At the end of each meeting members are expected to go around the tables and with everyone witnessing, either offer a testimonial, a referral or a thank you to at least 1 person in the group. No slouchers allowed. Our eyes are all upon you.

2. You are held accountable- In a good way! Members are expected to make it to most of the weekly meetings- only 3 absences are allowed within a 6 month period without obtaining a substitute. It’s a structured group (although we do manage to have fun…). Commitment is expected of the group, and it pays off. If you are perceived as being serious about giving and receiving business referrals, and about satisfying customers that have been referred to you, business leads follow. Performing quality work is an expectation. After all, you need to look at these people in the eye at 7 AM each and every week. Therefore the weeding is taken care of, and a good group will end up with quality professionals who they can feel confident referring to their network. And parents.

3. The motto, originated by BNI founder Ivan Misner is that “Givers Gain”. Who doesn’t love that? Instead of the typical networking and “salesy” philosophy of “what can you do for me today”, in BNI we switch things up to a much more Buddhist way of thinking, in that if you are always thinking of ways, and of people to “give” business to, eventually it will come around. And 9 out of 10 times it does. Truly. Try doing it in your own life outside of a BNI and you will prove this to yourself. Give selflessly. It’s Karma, baby.

4. We get to hone our presentation skills: At every meeting folks get an opportunity to give a 60 second elevator speech (hate that term) about what a good lead would be for them that day, and at each meeting the members rotate an opportunity to give a “marketing minute” and a 10 minute presentation where they really get to present their “thang”. Why should someone hire this person? You’ll find out at the 10 minute presentation, and you’ll have a chance to really hone your delivery. Great presentation skill building. Who needs Toastmasters?

5. Only one professional of each profession allowed per group. If you’re admitted into the group, you are the sole financial advisor, life insurance agent, realtor, etc., which obviously encourages referrals. It’s easy to form strategic alliances and spheres of influences this way. Again, accountability is key however. We’re all counting on quality work being performed as it reflects back on us.

6. We’re out by 8:30 AM with the day in front of us. The funny thing is, most of us have a lot to talk about after the meeting and don’t want to go. If you’re lucky you’ll get into a great group like ours, who really enjoy one another’s company and use the power of BNI to grow our businesses both on site and off.

I’m really happy this great group of professionals allowed me to grace them with my presence. I’ve never looked back, gladly pay the dues, and in the one short year that I’ve been a member it has helped grow my business exponentially. Who couldn’t use that?

Suzen Pettit
www.omaginarium.com
www.omaginehealth.com
203 733 8578
Get Found, Get Heard, Get Crackin’

CSSD expert tackles new role: pens book about finding peace and living well in face of terminal illness

Michele DeMeo, CRCST, CSPDT, is considered an expert in the hospital Central Sterile Supply field, a profession responsible for the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of surgical instrumentation. She is highly regarded for her management techniques, knowledge, expertise, professional product developments, and many contributions to various healthcare associations and professional publications. Beyond that, she has worked as an independent consultant, global educator, national and international sterile processing standards development contributor, author, and activist for many causes.

DeMeo is now tackling another important role — learning to find peace and live well in the face of a terminal illness, and sharing her wisdom and personal experience with the world through her newly-published book, “The Beauty of a Slow Death.” Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2010, DeMeo was immediately faced with the reality that this terminal illness would rob her of the life she had come to know. But rather than throwing in the towel and succumbing mentally and emotionally to this debilitating disease, the diagnosis wound up serving as the impetus behind her most importantgoal thus far: to start living well, as if each day were her last.

While DeMeo is a widely-published author for some leading healthcare journals and trade publications,some may question why she chose to put her painful experience into words and carve out already limited time to author a book. Her response is aptly suited to her kind and compassionate nature: if her experience can help even one person live better and more fully, even in the face of a devastating disease or other major life challenge, then the hard work is more than worthwhile.

Indeed, “The Beauty of a Slow Death” is doing just that. Several hundred copies have already been sold and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. “We all are on our own journey, and Michele has taken the time to share with us her journey. The honesty she has shared about her journey and her transformation is inspirational,” said Stephen Kovach, director of education for Healthmark Industries.

In addition to the many individuals who have shared how the book helped and inspired them, DeMeo’swork is also earning praise from a number of prominent healthcare organizations, including those that target ALS, and those representing hospice, palliative care, home health, and more.

“This book is a perfect reflection of what I see when people face life head on,” noted Susan Walsh, RN, ACNS-BC, regional nurse coordinator for Greater Philadelphia Chapter ALS Association. “This book is not about dying a slow death, but the choices that everyone makes to fully live the life they have.”

Although the book is about DeMeo’s experience with living with ALS and dying a slow death, she, too, believes that its core message is for everyone. “Whether we’re told we have days or months to live, or we have every reason to believe that we’ll be here 50 years or more, the bottom line is we owe it to ourselves to live the best we can,” she said. “Our life goals and abilities may change over time, but we still have the power to take charge of our lives in a positive, meaningful and productive way.”

“The Beauty of a Slow Death” may be purchased online at www.createspace.com/3805209 and also through Amazon (www.amazon.com) and Barnes and Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com).

If you follow the news, it sounds like the odds of fifty year olds hitting the lottery are greater than landing a job. They’re not thought of in the context of passion, drive, and working all nighters; employers should watch this show http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-pitch. After watching the first episode, how could any employer not want the experience, wisdom, talent, tenacity, commitment, competitiveness and dedication that Boomers bring to the table?

Baby Boomers handle failure and rejection well because unlike the young, they’ve lived through lots of challenges and know it’s not a death sentence, but part of the building blocks of success. They have increased tolerance for ambiguity and paradox and are better listeners and reflective, strategic thinkers. Another reason to hire Boomers is they’re good with their hands. Matt Sher, President of Day and Night/All Service located in New Hyde Park, New York, stated on CNN that he cannot find young trade talent; those trained in HVAC, plumbing and commercial refrigeration. They have job openings and cannot find qualified workers http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/smallbusiness/1204/gallery.employees/?iid=SF_SB_LN.

Baby Boomers, one of the most productive generations in US history, were born between 1946 and 1964 and are the single largest economic group in the United States, consisting of 78 million people.

Are you a laid off Boomer? Have you been downsized, outsourced or laid off? Whatever the euphemism, the bottom line is the same–no money coming in and bills piling up. You have to perform like those two ad agencies; you have to work your butt off, indulge in a few all nighters and pitch your story to an employer. You have to go up against your competition and be creative and inventive to sell your value proposition. Listen, I know you may be afraid but everyone has to learn the art of selling, from top executives to college grads.

I worked for a construction management company, and as part of their presentation team, presented to agencies all across the United States. For me, there is nothing I enjoy more than pretending I’m Oprah, strutting around a room like a proud peacock and engaging an audience. Some people however would shake in their boots when told they had to present but you know what, practice and preparation doesn’t make perfect but it damn sure makes better www.toastmasters.org. Here is how you look for a job and sell the most important asset you have, yourself.

1. Expand your search by demographics and industry. Don’t let fear paralyze you from exploring all your options. According to AARP, older workers are moving to North Dakota in droves for high paying jobs http://www.aarp.org/work/job-hunting/info-02-2012/north-dakota-boom-town.html. “New access to the vast Bakken formation — a thin band of oil-rich shale nearly two miles beneath the Williston Basin that spreads from North Dakota and Montana up to Saskatchewan and could contain up to 24 billion barrels of oil — has brought frantic growth to the region.” Please continue your job search on Job Service North Dakota at www.findjobsnd.com.

The one problem women are having is there are just too many available men in town. All of us single ladies in Atlanta, Washington, DC and New York we now know where to go. Single, working, available men, my next vacation will be to North Dakota.

2. Understand what an interview is: An interview is an exchange of ideas and information. It is not a test or someplace you go to speak poorly of previous employers, gossip about current events or tell your life story. Every interview is about what you offer, want and expect from the employer versus what the employer is looking for, needs, offers and will provide. If there is a meeting of the minds and you both have what the other wants, you will probably work together.

3. Don’t go in blind. I know you’ve heard it before, but we all know people who show up to interviews knowing nothing about the company. www.glassdoor.com allows you to search job openings, see company salaries and read reviews. A person I interviewed years ago thought the company made diesel engines. We were construction managers, nuff said.

Based on your newfound knowledge, what can you offer the company? Will you be able to save them money? Will you be able to improve its image? Will you be able to increase sales? Describe how you can achieve definable goals with concrete examples. A successful interview is when your skills and talent align with what the company needs and meets the demands of the position, so stay on message.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “The more you know, the further you’ll go.” Before you begin the interview process, perform self-analysis and be honest. Know thyself. Know exactly what your skills are and how they can be applied to the position you’re going after.

4. Arrive early. Try to get to the interview fifteen minutes early so you have time to relax and collect your thoughts and go to the restroom to check your appearance. When the interviewer calls you in, you don’t want to be flustered and frazzled. You want to walk in calm and confident, with your shoulders back and your head held high. I know you Boomers practice Yoga so you have great posture; great posture makes you look more confident, slouching makes you look less competent.

5. Dress to impress but not like you are going to a cocktail party or a jazz club, just well-groomed and professional from head to toe. Make sure your hair and nails are trimmed and clean. A suit is always appropriate. Don’t use any strong cologne or perfume and don’t wear large earrings, necklaces and bracelets that can be distracting and noisy during the interview process. Do not chew gum or smoke any legal or illegal substances before the interview, smoke clings to fabric. Come on now, I’ve watched the documentary on drugs on the Discovery Channel and there’s a whole lot of drugging going on to the tune of $30 billion annually.

6. Conduct mock interviews until you become comfortable selling yourself to others with passion. Become comfortable talking about what you do and how well you do it with clarity and specificity. Everyone knows someone who is brilliant but doesn’t know how to express it. The interviewer has reviewed your resume and will definitely ask you specific questions. Be able to discuss how your previous work assignments and responsibilities prepared you for this position.

7. Ask a few good questions and then thank the interviewer for their time; also send each interviewer a thank you note which briefly recaps your interest and value proposition. Sign the note respectfully. You will be surprised at how many people never follow-up so please don’t drop the ball here. After a week or so, pick up the telephone and talk to the interviewer; nothing beats a one-on-one conversation. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the oil but don’t squeak too loudly or often or you might just get replaced. Don’t become annoying or sound desperate. After the initial follow-up, call the interviewer once a week. Keep a log of whom you called when.

Be Prepared has been the Boy’s Scouts’ motto for more than 100 years, and it has never failed them. Your preparedness will never fail you. We are all in this together so please share your interview tips or challenges below. Follow me DGSBlogger on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/DGSBlogger

According to Michelle Villalobos, Founder, “Everyone is selling something. Whether it’s your products, your services, a point of view, an idea, a cause or simply yourself, every woman can benefit from learning how to SELL. Miami’s largest women’s conference returns to Miami for the 5th Summit – The Big CLOSE. Learn from, get inspired by and connect with top professionals from South Florida… and beyond. Featuring appearances by some of the business world’s most interesting, successful and educational speakers, panelists, gurus and prodigies.”

The video below tells the story of some of the past summits

The Faculty – including Nell Merlino, Mike Michalowicz and Michelle Villalobos, among dozens of other experts will share with the audience amazing insights, trends and vision.

And the content is RICH! Two days of non-stop expert presentations including:

Make Mine A Million & “Take Our Daughters To Work Day” Founder, Nell Merlino:

What Motivational Speakers Won’t Tell You About Building A Million Dollar Business

Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Author, Mike Michalowicz:

The 8 Secrets To Getting More Customers, To Buy More Things, More Often

“Chief Badass” & Founder of BadassBusinessWomen.org, Jessica Kizorek:

The Badass Guide To Selling Yourself… Without Selling Your Soul

Annette Nathan, Creator of Women & Wealth:

“Mission Control: A System To Manage EVERYTHING In Your Life”

The Male Panel:

How The Other Half WORK: Men On Success, Unscripted & Uncensored

Join hundreds of smart, successful, influential women from around South Florida and around the country on May 17th and 18th from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Venue: Miracle Theater, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

General Passes, VIP Passes and the ALL-NEW VIP PLUS Pass are available! Go here to register: http://www.womenssuccesssummit.com/

I will be there! Hope to see you there…

WE Magazine will be collecting cards and doing a drawing for Four full-page ads for our Summer Issue. Be sure and find me and give me your card!

WE Magazine for Women is delighted to support the WBENC National Conference taking place in Orlando Florida on June 20, 2012.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

For more than a decade and a half, WBENC has helped to open the doors of opportunity for WBEs. This important tradition will continue at the 2012 conference as WBENC continues to implement the Roadmap to 2020. The three-day conference will promote WBENC certification as the framework supporting the procurement requirements of corporate and government entities interested in doing business with women business enterprises. The event will also support WBENC-Certified WBEs who seek better access to procurement opportunities in these markets.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops will focus on economic impact and job creation; entrepreneurial training; innovation, technology and sustainability; and the best ways to access capital and develop new markets.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Several well-known personalities, including New York Times best selling authors, nationally recognized business leaders and C-level executives will offer valuable insight on business trends, economic forecast and how to succeed in today’s marketplace.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

BUSINESS FAIR

Boasting more than 3,200 registered attendees, last year’s Business Fair was a resounding success. The one-of-a-kind event drew 325 exhibitors, including more than 100 WBENC-Certified WBE exhibitors from across the nation.

There is so much more! Including a Matchmaker Program, Silent Auction, Sponsorship Opportunities and more.

Visit the site today: http://www.wbenc.org/wbencconf/

REGISTER HERE: http://www.wbenc.org/wbencconf/reg.php 

ABOUT WBENC The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations to provide its world class standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. WBENC is also the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations.

flowers for mom

274 Million U.S. Mobile Subscribers Plan on Reaching out to Mom on Mother’s Day, According New Survey from Rebtel - Study Shows that Women are Much More Likely to Give Mom a Gift, and Plan to Spend More Time Talking

Rebtel, the world’s largest mobile VoIP company after Skype, today announced results from a new Mother’s Day survey, which polled U.S. mobile users on their holiday intentions.

According the study, 83.4% of U.S. adults plan on getting in touch with their mom this mother’s day (other than in-person), which is representative of approximately 274 million Americans. The study also showed that mobile phone via traditional carrier minutes is the overwhelming favorite method at 72.7%, followed by VoIP calling (via PC or app) 11.9%, then Landline 11% and video chat (3%), followed by email (.8%). Social Networks, IM, and SMS were the least popular choices registering below .3%.

Are Women More Likely to Show Mom Some Love?

The results showed some notable differences between men and women, namely women (76.2%) are much more likely to get their mom a gift than Men (65.9%) and plan to spend more time talking. 42.5% of Women responded by saying they plan to spend 30 mins or more speaking with their mom on mother’s day, whereas only 34.8% of responded with the intention of doing so.

The study also showed that 20% plan on spending less on communications than last year, but of those who plan to spend less, 45.7% attribute the lower spending to the use of free/cheap messaging apps for calling.

Rebtel’s Mother’s Day survey survey was conducted during the first week of May using SurveyMonkey, an online survey service, which polled 723 U.S. mobile users.

*Note: According to the trade organization CTIA, there were approximately 328 million wireless service subscribers in the U.S. in 2011.

About Rebtel: Rebtel is the world’s largest mobile VoIP Company after Skype. Today, the company is growing rapidly with more than 15 million callers in 54 countries with a run rate of over 1 billion minutes per year. The company is on pace to hit $85 million in revenue at the end of 2012. Rebtel users call through smartphone or desktop apps or any other phone to make free or cheap international calls. For more information, or to start using Rebtel, go to www.rebtel.com.

Here’s a few of the higlights:

–84% of U.S. Mobile Subscribers (274M) Plan on Reaching Out to their Mom this Mother’s Day

–Women (76%) are much more likely to get mom a gift than men (66%)

–Over 40% of women (42%) plan on talking to their moms more than 30 minutes, whereas only 35% of men plan on doing so.

–Mobile phone is by far the most popular method of reaching out with nearly three out of four respondents (72.7%) preferring that method; with VoIP (via services like Skype, Viber or Rebtel) –beating out Landlines, (12% vs 11%); followed by video chat (3%), and email (.8%).

THE NUMBER ON THE SCALE - Woman of a Certain Age, by Marcia Barhydt

I recently saw a poster called “The Number on the Scale” and it certainly hit home with me and I bet many of you will agree with what it says too.

I’ve had challenges with my weight all my life. When I was a teenager and just becoming aware of how important body size was in order to ‘fit in’, I went to my family doctor and asked for help. Understand please that I was not fat pudgy, I was just overweight. My doctor prescribed a drug called Dexedrine for me, a drug which now is used only to treat much more serious conditions than weight gain.

Dexedrine is a strong, strong stimulant – I was whizzing all over the place, doing this, doing that, sleeping for about 2 or 3 hours at night, popping another pill in the morning and doing it all over again. I was only a teenager, way too young to make this kind of decision that could put me in medical peril because of side effects. Dexedrine was a bad drug, but boy did it make me lose weight.

Of course there are now all kinds of other remedies to spur you on to weight loss. Some are good, some are not so good and some are invasive, offensive and scary.

Why are we so obsessed with our weight? Why do anorexic women continue to think that they’re fat when all that’s left is skin and bones? Why do I hear of little girls being on a diet? Little girls! Come on!

If you’ve read any of my other articles, you know that I’m going to blame Madison Avenue ad agencies. Young, firm, perky, sexy, sells. And god help you if you’re not that, if you’re not svelte bordering on skinny, because you are gonna stick out like a sore thumb on the elegant hand of advertising beauty. And please know that I’m aware of the health issues here. I’m not talking on behalf of women who are 200 pounds overweight; I’m talking about you and me and our extra 25 to 50 to 75 pounds.

Rather than rehash all of the points I’ve made before, I think it’d be pretty cool to talk about the positive points on the poster of the scales. “The number on this scale will NOT tell you: what a great person you are; how much your friends and family love you; that you are kind, smart, funny and amazing in ways numbers cannot define; that you have the power to choose your happiness; and the number will not tell you your own self worth.” Please read these words to yourself over and over until you own them. Make these words your mantra.

I am so grateful to be at an age where my body shape and size doesn’t rule me; I am so grateful to be at an age where my body shape is way less important than the shape of my mind, the shape of my soul and the shape of my gut. I am so grateful to be at an age where my body shape no longer defines the person I am.

I am so grateful to be at an age where I can choose to accept my body shape without choosing to be victimized by my choice.

I’m a woman of a certain age and I’m certain my body is just fine, thank you.

©Marcia Barhydt, 2012

Expert Calls for ‘Economic Disobedience’

The national mood remains anxious, worried. We have millions of Americans out of work, many of them Baby Boomers who’ve seen what they worked for these past 30 years disappear: a predictable career, financial security, home equity, retirement savings. The foundation they’ve worked so hard to build seems to have collapsed before their very eyes.

“They feel lost. They see hedge-funders and investment bankers as having hijacked the American Dream from the middle class,” says Peter Weddle, former CEO of Job Bank USA, Inc., and author of A Multitude of Hope: A Novel About Rediscovering the American Dream (www.AMultitudeofHope.com).

“Boomers – and all working Americans, for that matter – feel as if all of the opportunity has been sucked out of the land of opportunity, and they don’t know how or even if they can succeed in this changed world.”

But America is still the leader of the global economy and its future is as bright as it ever was, Weddle says. Why? Because Americans are individually prone to innovation and creativity, and collectively, the most diverse pool of workers in the world, he says.

“For all the unresolved immigration issues we have in the United States, we still have the best workforce on the planet. Our diversity gives us a huge advantage over the competition in the global economy,” Weddle says. “We have every kind of talent the world has to offer, while other countries such as China, India and Japan have very homogenous cultures so everyone basically brings the same talent to the table.”

That talent, however, is being wasted. The U.S. workplace has become an investor-driven market, a place where workers are treated as disposable cogs who are costs to be minimized rather than capabilities to be maximized on-the-job, Weddle says. The only way out, therefore, is something he calls “economic disobedience.” If every American stands up and demands their right to be employed as a person of talent – and if they then elevate that talent and bring it to work with them – they can reclaim the American Dream, Weddle says.

He sees Baby Boomers already beginning to do this. The number of 50- to 64-year-olds enrolled in college jumped 17 percent from 2007 to 2009, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“These are the people who see this time as a moment of liberation – a chance to reinvigorate their talent so they can perform at their peak on-the-job,” Weddle says. “And that self-reliance and individual determination is how our country will recapture its mojo.”

A national human resources expert, Weddle says people don’t necessarily have to go back to school or reinvent themselves. But they do need to identify their talent – their innate capacity for excellence – and take a proactive approach to integrating it into their career.

“It may be a gift for getting things organized, for resolving conflicts, for explaining complex topics in simple terms,” he says. “Every single one of us has a talent and when we apply it at work, our job satisfaction – and our pay – goes up.

“Instead of work being a four-letter word, it becomes something to get excited about and to feel good about. We rekindle our self-confidence, self-respect and determination and we produce an economic revolution that restores democratic capitalism.”

Peter Weddle, a former recruiter and human resource consultant, is the CEO of the International Association of Employment Web Sites, a trade organization. He has written or edited more than two dozen non-fiction books regarding careers and employment; “A Multitude of Hope” is his first work of fiction. Weddle is the founder and former CEO of Job Bank USA, Inc., one of the largest electronic employment services companies in the United States.

What Do You Do When a Stranger Approaches You in a Parking Lot?

Personal Safety Tip #1 How to Avoid an Attack:

The most commonly asked question is what do you do if you are approached in a parking lot by a stranger? No one likes to be rude but bad guys can take advantage of your good nature. So what do you do if you’re approached?

The best self defense is to not allow yourself to be put in a vulnerable situation in the first place. The best way to do this is to keep your distance from this person. Everyone has their own personal space and if you allow that stranger to come too close to you then you may not have enough time to react.

The best way to keep your distance from a potential attacker is to extend your hand up in front of you at eye level and ask that person what they want. It is important you have it at the eye level of that person which is more intimidating. You can say whatever you feel comfortable saying to that person but do it with purpose. Say it with an authoritative voice! Excuse me can I help you? Please keep your distance, what do you want? etc. This act alone can improve your odds of survival. The person approaching you now knows that you are well aware of him; bad guys want the element of surprise and easy targets. With your hand up as it is, anyone in the parking lot looking in your direction can see that this could be a bad situation. You don’t even have to say anything; your hand up says it all! This action is a universal language that you do not want that person any closer. Most people have cell phones and can call 911 to report that something is going on in the parking lot that does not look right. Please send an officer right away!

Keep in mind if that person is a good guy he will apologize and walk in a different direction, if not NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE SAYING you MUST KEEP YOUR DISTANCE because you may be in serious personal danger. Please keep in mind this technique is a preventative measure to avoid an attack and it will improve your odds of survival but it is also a test! This will tell you right away if you’re in immediate danger and if you may need to react further.

One in Every Three Women will be attacked in their Lifetime in some fashion. One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, 1 out of 4 women are a victim of domestic violence.

Tracy Vega is the CEO for Simple Self Defense for Women ® and blogger for the Balancing Act on Lifetime Television. www.simpleselfdefenseforwomen.com

Borrowed Time – 75 Years and Counting

I read about 2 books a week and Borrowed Time was not only a quick read, it was entertaining and kept my interest! We need more books like this. I loved that it was not a typical “linear” book, but was one that told about pockets of a life as oppposed to as they happened. It was refreshing.

Here is an excerpt submitted by the author:

Fitting In

You just want to fit in. When you’re a little girl of six or seven or eight or nine, that means jacks, jump rope, hopscotch. If you’re not very good at it, that’s ok, but you do have to play. At school and in your neighborhood, games set the standard for belonging. Redlight-Greenlight, Hide-and-Seek, Red Rover-Red Rover, Follow the Leader, Crack the Whip. You join in, whatever the game.

At little later, in high school, you join clubs, go to the sock-hops and football games. Wear the right saddle oxfords and sweater sets. Go the movies with the gang every week.

Get good grades and worry about college.

Later still, you marry and have children and worry about them. Go to church. Join the PTA and the Women’s Club. Play bridge or canasta. You just want to belong, to fit in.

You have friends, or at least a lot of acquaintances. You show up at the Garden Club meetings and you’re greeted, welcomed. You help with pot lucks and community projects and donate to the local charity or theater or museum. Go to the fundraiser dinners. Oh, yes.

Much later, but sooner than you could ever have imagined, you’re joining AARP and the Senior Center and thinking about retirement homes.

Much, much later, when at last St. Peter checks you in at the pearly gate he’ll give you a great big smile and say, “Welcome, my friend, don’t worry, you’re going to fit right in!”

To learn more about Borrowed Time and the author visit: Xlibris.com