2016 PWBN Fall Issue Magazine

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
PWBN
The Fall Issue
Financial
Independence,
Healthcare,
Branding
and more
Bringing Women Together
One Meeting at a Time

How To Get A Souvenir in Every
Shop and Only Spend $10.20
By MIchelle St. Pierre
In anticipation of our Disney trip last
year my kids were given very generous
gift cards from their uncle to use as
spending money. I’m talking way
generous, more money than either of
them had in their piggy banks at any given
time. I had planned to take them to the
bank to cash in their coins for souvenirs,
and I was thinking they’d each have $15
to spend, not $150 I tossed and turned a
little bit over this – let them spend it all,
or use some of it to pay for trip expenses,
like meals? I decided in the end to use it
to cover their pirate makeovers, but let
them use the rest any way they pleased.
In other words, I let my kids have at it in
every gift shop on property. My only rule
was that it had to fit in our suitcases on
the way home, so sorry, kid, the 3 foot
tall Darth Vader has to stay at Tatooine
Traders.
It was liberating, as someone
who always looks for the best
deal on merchandise, to let
my kids spend with comparing
prices, and it was nice to not
say, “no.” But what I didn’t
think about was our next
Disney vacation, without the
gift cards.
Fast forward to this year, and
as I was preparing for our
Disney vacation I realized
I needed a plan to divert
attention from the gift shops.
The kids had done a pressed
penny or two before but that
was always scrounged up from
the loose change in the bottom
of my bag. I figured this time
I would be a little more
prepared, so I did a little
research. A pressed penny costs
$0.51 to make - 2 quarters plus
the penny you are pressing. Using
2500 pounds of pressure, the penny
is squeezed between two rollers,
flattening it, and leaving behind an
impression from one of the rollers.
Pressed penny machines are located
around all the Disney parks AND
shops.
I also learned that pennies dated
1982 or earlier make the best
pressed pennies. Even though a
shiny new penny might look like it
will yield a better souvenir, the zinc
core of a new penny will leave silver
colored streaks in the end result
when pressed. Prior to mid-1982
pennies were all copper.
So I gathered up all the pennies I
could find around the house and
got a roll of quarters out of the
car. (Who pays tolls with quarters
anymore anyway!? Thank you,
EZpass.) So far the investment in
this project was $10 and 20 pennies
for each kid.
Once we arrived at Disney the first
thing my daughter wanted to do was
check out the gift shops on Main
Street USA. After looking at miles
of Frozen themed merchandise I steered
her over to the pressed penny machine
where we found – a Frozen themed
penny press! She was thrilled to press
Anna and Elsa into her shiny penny.
Over the course of the trip, my kids
happily pressed pennies in every gift
shop we visited. In one gift shop
(conveniently the only exit) they even
pressed quarters. It costs $1.25 to press
a quarter and you get a shiny silver
pressed coin in your collection as well.
Disney sells a “pressed penny book” that
you can get in most of the gift shops,
which allows you to save and display all
your pressed penny treasures after your
trip is over. It even has spaces for those
pressed quarters. I’d like to say we got
away with just spending the $10.20 on
the pressed coins, but we did buy the
books. Overall being prepared with coins
for the pressed penny machines saved
us from overspending on souvenirs, and
it was nice to not say, “no” to the gift
shops.
Michelle St. Pierre is a Travel Planner
with It’s All About the Mouse Travel, LLC
https://www.facebook.com/itsall
aboutthemousetravelmichelle

The Path to Financial Independence
By Linda Dell
A
steep learning curve led mortgage
branch manager and doting
mother, Lorna Cruz, to financial
freedom. Because she still
remembers struggling to make ends meet
as a single mom, with three youngsters,
her mission is simple, yet life-changing:
put families on firm financial footing.
That’s what led her mortgage company
to sponsor the 2016 RENEW Health &
Wellness Expo this fall on Saturday,
September 24, in Trenton, NJ. Cruz
realizes that financial fitness leads to a
healthy mind, body, and spirit that drive
your success.
“Now we are living in the middle of the
pyramid, where we are not in debt, not in
scarcity,” said Cruz.
“We are in a healthy place. I don’t have
to worry about whether or not the bills
are going to be paid.”
How and when did she hit the career
lottery?
By 2002, she had three children and a
young baby from her recent marriage,
now 14 years strong. She was tired of
working crazy hours catering weekend
gigs that consumed her family time,
which led her to a new career, where
she learned the nuts and bolts of the
mortgage industry.
“What my mentor taught me changed the
course of my life,” said Cruz.
Hungering for her own place, after 13
years in the field, she flew out to the
biggest trade show, where she hit the
career lottery in Las Vegas. “I used all my
points from my credit cards to book it,”
said Cruz.
That’s where she met representatives
from the Norcom Mortgage Company, who
shared her vision and philosophy, and
eight months later opened up her own
branch, walking distance from her home.
explained Cruz, “so I especially reach
out to women, people going through life
changes, divorce, or restructuring.”
So how does someone get financially fit?
• Live within your means
• Save on a regular basis
• Live in a house that is a healthy
environment, one that feeds you
spiritually
Cruz shared her philosophy of why
it’s vital to get fit and stay healthy:
“Working out is how you get rid of
your stress, think clearly, and open
up your mind to new possibilities and
opportunities to create your dreams.”
Lorna’s Journey
A tenacious woman like Cruz has always
availed herself of every opportunity to
make money—even when she was tested
the most.
“As a single mom for quite a few
years, I have always been a survivor,
a doer, someone who always needed a
challenge,” recalled Cruz. “That’s who I
am.”
Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to
start two home-based businesses after
she became pregnant with her first son,
always leveraged her skill set from one
career to the next. Cruz has really seen
and done it all.
“I’m kind of like Barbie. I’ve had a
zillion careers,” said Cruz, who has done
everything from interior designer to
private chef.
She leveraged her “domestic goddess”
skills to become a private chef—starting
out making lunch for a loan officer and
his colleagues and ending up with a new
career. For Cruz opportunities to earn
extra money often morphed into another
profitable business.
“Honestly, I do everything with passion,
so if the passion is gone, then I have to
find something else,” said Cruz.
Financial Fitness
Now her mission is two-fold:
• Train the next generation of
lenders
• Reeducate
the consumer—the
millennials and other
first time buyers under
the misconception that
they can’t afford to buy
and the elderly who think
they can’t afford to keep
their house
For all your financial needs
“Having gone through
a divorce, living in a
rented three bedroom,
three floor walk-up,
with three kids, and
bicycles and everything
else, I know how
important it is to keep
your house,” said Cruz.
Looking back Cruz
realizes that when she
moved, she also lost a
solid support system. “A
home is a neighborhood
and a way of life,”
Life / Health / Long-term Care Insurance
Jane Fetter
215.534.4908
janefetterconsulting.com
jfetterconsulting@gmail.com
Annuities

Your Life is Your Job
By Natasha Sherman
Let’s face it. We all want more of
something. Most of the time we can
even define what we want. I’m not
talking only about material things.
I’m also talking about the experiential
aspect of what we want and crave
and long for; joy, satisfaction, delight,
self-love, confidence, peace of mind,
fulfillment, the freedom to be us. If you
take a close look , when we go after the
material things, what we are really going
after is all those experiential feelings.
We know how to go after the material
things; work, save, ask, create strategies.
Most of us are not trained or skilled
in creating and sustaining the feeling
experience.
All the “things” out there can be fun,
delightful, enhancing and even enriching.
The problem that arises is that the
feelings are not sustained, so we keep
repeating ourselves or looking for new
and different ways to create them. It
is fleeting. You’re hungry again very
quickly.
This is one of the reasons we become
addicted to food, alcohol, coffee,
people, drugs, and behaviors. Once
is not enough. So we reach for our
“connection/fix” over and over and over
again.
All the great wisdom writings, past and
current, keep pointing to the “answers”
being inside of us. The answers are
within. The well that will consistently
quench our thirst is within. The access
to consistent joy, satisfaction, and peace
of mind is something we carry within us;
but we keep focusing outward instead of
inward.
So where do we start? It has to start with
a desire and a willingness to explore what
may not seem familiar or comfortable. I
often meet people who articulate a strong
state of dissatisfaction or even a dulling
sense of resignation, who intellectually
understand that it will require something
of them, and who even feel strongly that
they are unwilling to leave things the way
they are. Yet they are unwilling to take
even a first step toward a new possibility.
Sometimes it seems unfathomable. Our
comfort zone/our default position is so
seductively familiar that we are willing
to sacrifice the possibility of joy because
of a wall of resistance to something
unfamiliar.
The other place to start is to recognize
that your life is your job, not anyone
else’s. The quality of how you experience
your life is up to you. It just takes a
minute to look at the things you’ve
bought in the past that brought you
momentary joy but that soon became
ordinary. Look at the relationships
where you expected the other person to
make you happy. That usually ends up in
disappointment and blame. It is your job
to make you happy! And if you are happy,
chances are good that you will draw to
you circumstances and people that will
enhance your life.
Start to meditate. Take a mindfulness
training. Spend time reading about
and exploring the inner journey. Take
responsibility for your happiness. Turn
off your television and your phone for
a period of time each day. Get out in
nature. Watch children and animals.
Start a journal. There’s no right way to
do this but there are some ways that are
more effective than others. This is a
training. It is not a one and done process.
This is where working with a trained and
skilled Coach is useful. Athletes do it.
Why wouldn’t you? Don’t settle for a
life half lived.
Natasha Sherman is a Life Success Coach
at “Live by Design/Not by Default” -
www.NatashaSherman.com

Launder Your Way to Better Health
By Cathy Neilley
My business in the laundering
industry has a customer-centric
focus, and this translates to
a strong desire to address
customer concerns about possible allergic
reactions to irritants in their preferred
laundry products. After all, many modern
detergent products contain more than
surfactants to lift dirt; they’re combined
with brighteners, softening agents, and
stain dissolvers as part of an all-in-one
formula.
Here are some laundry tips that I can offer
to help you launder without worrying about
potential problems:
Get the Facts
According to online health sites, including
WebMD, an allergic response is triggered
when your immune system overreacts to a
chemical ingredient that it normally finds
harmless. These sources report that the
most common reaction to these agents is
a red, itchy rash known as allergic contact
dermatitis. This rash, however, may be a
symptom of extremely dry skin—a condition
also known as eczema, which is not due to
an allergen and tends to run in families.
In our industry, the agents of concern are
the fragrance and/or dyes found in most
detergent and softener brands. But before
you dispose of all your favorite laundry
products, have your physician examine
you in order to determine the best course
of action. A 2012 report published in
the Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology found that less than 5% of
participants in a study, about brightener
and enzyme additives in detergents, were
found to be allergic to them.
Smell The Roses
Few customers, today, use fabric softeners
to soften and facilitate ironing. Instead it
is all about affecting a fresh, long-lasting
fragrance that implies that the clothes
are clean. This desire is reflected in the
popularity of heavily scented products
like Gain® and Purex® crystals. A caution:
The bouquet from this “rose” comes with
thorns since the user is likely exposed to
a higher than average level of fragrance
additives.
Just as important as fragrance quality is
quantity per load.
Customers are often observed adding
significantly more product to the wash
than is suggested by staff or the respective
product manufacturer—oftentimes enough
to pressure force all of it down the sewer.
Then there are those who leave nothing to
chance and utilize both softener liquid and
sheets. A double threat!
The point is, if you want to reduce
your exposure to irritants, consider
hypoallergenic products with little, or
no, scent or dye. Ask your healthcare
professional for a recommendation and
read product labels carefully when you
shop; recognizing that those claiming
to be “gentle” could contain additives.
Importantly, follow the quantity
recommended by the producer which has
been determined to
give you the best
outcome for your
particular wash size.
They have a stake in
your satisfaction.
Change Up
Since dust and lint
from dryer sheets can
trigger an allergic
reaction it may be
worth switching to
a liquid. The other
benefits are that
industry experts
find liquid to be
more effective and
less harmful to the
environment.
Consider acquiring an
allergen-free pillow
or mattress cover as
a protective barrier.
The composite
material of the
bedding or pillow,
(plus whatever
critters it may be
harboring), can cause
allergic reactions
involving the skin or
respiratory system.
You may also want
to change your bed
sheets more often—not because you have more
everyday dirt than anyone else, rather because
of the allergens that may have settled on it.
And, what do you think about showering in the
evening? A recent CBS radio broadcast segment
advised this remedy designed to prevent outdoor
pollen and irritants from transferring from your
skin to sheets and pajamas.
Hope these tips provide you with either
confidence in the current products and methods,
or ideas to adopt that can impact your life and
health in a positive way.
Cathy Neilley is the Principle Owner of Spin
Doctor Laundromat, 1070 Whitehorse-Mercerville
Rd, Hamilton, N.J. 08619
www.spindoctorlaundromat.com; Tel: 609-981-
7746; Email: spindoctor@pitwebsite.com

The Hidden World of Healthcare
By Basma Qazi
When it comes to the healthcare
industry, we tend to think
doctors, nurses and insurance
agents. While these careers
certainly fall at the top of the chain,
the industry is composed of many
other key players that really make
accessible healthcare what it is. Lab/
EKG technicians, phlebotomists, certified
nursing assistants (CNA) and certified
medical assistants (CMA) are just a few
hidden gems of the healthcare systems
that we all very much need. If you’re
looking for a fulfilling change of pace, the
healthcare industry is full of viable career
options.
Why work in the healthcare industry? A
major perk of pursuing these career paths
is job security. The health care industry
is consistently growing exponentially,
with statistics from the US Department
of Labor expecting 3 million new wage
and salary jobs between 2016 and 2026.
This is more than any other industry,
meaning you’ll easily be able to find a
job in nearly every region of the United
States. As a trained professional, you’ll
have the freedom to choose where
you want to work and live! The biggest
demand currently, and most likely long
term, is for entry-level “bedside” positions
including home health aides (CHHAs), CNAS
and CMAs. Stemming partially from the
country’s aging population, there has been
major growth in nursing and residential
care, home health care and outpatient
treatment facilities making bedside
positions a stable career choice.
Another plus? Health care workers make
good money – not just doctors and nurses.
The average starting salary for health care
technicians and additional staffers rangers
from $12 to $30 per hour, depending on the
position. These are typical base earnings
in the field; the more experience in your
field, the more you can make.
Finally, a career in the healthcare industry
can be very spiritually fulfilling. Working as
a healthcare
technician,
you’ll be
directly
making a
difference
in people’s
everyday
lives. Whether
you’re working as a phlebotomist, a home
health aide, or even a health services
administrator, you’re helping make the
world a little safer, healthier and better
day by day.
If you’re interested in making the best
career decision and improving lives,
Mercer Med Tech offer wonderful health
career training programs in Trenton, NJ.
Programs involve both classroom lectures
and hands-on learning opportunities,
connecting you with internships in labs,
clinics and/or hospitals. Mercer Med Tech
also offers grants and student loans to help
aspiring healthcare workers pay for school.
Written by Basma Qazi for Mercer Med
Tech. Call today for more information at
609-712-5499.

My Little Girl Grew Up
By Laura Templeton
Nothing you would have imagined
and everything you thought it
would be. My baby girl is gone and
in her place is a beautiful woman.
It all happened just that fast.
There was nothing traditional about my
daughter’s wedding, but that’s my girl.
From the time she was little she danced
to her own tune. We shared the special
mother daughter say “yes to the dress”
moment that will be forever etched in
my mind, so beautiful and so happy. The
bride and groom insisted on planning and
paying for everything. They were blessed
by a myriad of friends who gifted services
and helped them achieve their dream of
a simple country wedding that celebrated
their love.
As a mom I wanted to be involved in
every little detail and I have to admit
it was difficult not to be, but I learned
to respect my daughter’s wishes a long
time ago because this was not about me.
I thank God for my husband who was a
constant source of strength and always
had words of wisdom to help me through.
Sometimes I didn’t want to hear those
words but he was usually right.
The joy of supporting the kids in
preparing for their special day was a
blessing for us and as the day arrived the
flurry of activity increased. The morning
arrived and was filled with love and
laughter as we enjoyed time together
getting ready for the celebration. My
daughter added a very special touch
of going bare foot, something that was
precious to my husband. Sunflowers
and smiles were the highlights of the
day. Happy tears and a precious father
daughter dance are etched in our
memories forever.
Celebrating her wedding with her I
realized it was time to let go; time to let
go of the little girl, time to let her grow
without me by her side where I’ve always
been. Time to trust that I had done my
job, taught her all I could, and prepared
her for this new life. It was hard, it still
is. This first year has brought a lot of
change and a lot of growth for both of us.
I have come to find she still needs me and
yet it is different now. She has grown and
so have I.
Life is different without my girl in it
every day, but that doesn’t change
the fact that she is still my girl and I
am very proud of the woman she has
become. This month marks her first
wedding anniversary. She is married to
an amazing young man that I am proud
to call son, she is preparing for her first
home, and expecting her first baby in
December. Yes, my baby is having a
baby! A new chapter has begun, just that
fast.
Laura Templeton is the CEO of
30SecondSuccess.com. www.
thirtysecondsuccess.com
First Rate Insurance, LLC
Tom Scary
Providing Personal Service for
AUTO – HOME – BUSINESS – LIFE
Call for a Free Quote (215) 725-6700
www.firstrateinsurance.org

5 Habits of Empathetic People
to Help Improve Your Branding
Here is a fact to get your head
around: brands without empathy
towards true consumer needs,
end up becoming lonely and lack
customers (also known as unsuccessful).
Small business owners - are you listening?
One challenge that many small business
owners have is that they don’t really
understand their customers (although
many think they do). To paraphrase the
words of George Bernard Shaw, “others
might have different tastes so we
shouldn’t necessarily create for others
what you would have them create for
you.”
The definition of empathy is the ability
to understand and share the feelings
of another. For that matter, the most
important part of branding and marketing
is the ability to get in the minds of your
customers so that you can tailor your
messages to their needs. If you are too
close to your product or service it may
be difficult to set aside what you want
to say versus what your customer needs/
wants to hear. To get in the right branding
frame of mind here are five habits of
empathetic people that you can consider
and implement:
1. Switch on your empathetic brain.
Use your mirror neurons by putting
yourself into others shoes. It’s not just
what you would want it’s realizing what
others want (sound familiar?).
2. Make the imaginative leap.
Imagine yourself in their shoes, try not to
make assumptions, just get it from them
in their own words.
3. Practice the Craft of
Conversation. Listening is
one of the most powerful
tools that you can use
in creating your brand
message. What are your
customers’ feelings or
needs? Reflect what others
have said to feel like you’ve
been listened to (using their
language).
By Shakira M. Brown, Award-Winning Public Relations, Branding & Marketing Expert
4. Due your diligence.
Find where are customer are on social
chatting about your product or service
or even better your competitor find out
what they are really saying about what
they need. Use this information to craft
your brand messages (value proposition,
mission etc.)
5. Inspire a revolution.
Create a mass empathic occasions
that focus on solving their problem
(design something that truly delivers a
differentiated consumer end benefit).
And there you have it! In the words of
Oscar winning actor Robert DeNiro: “The
Talent is in the
choices.” Choose to
listen to what your
customers want and
need for branding
success.
One more thing.
Beware of these
blocks to empathy:
1. Ideologies (your
own belief’s about
your brand) that
dehumanize other’s
needs.
2. Avoiding Negative
Views – ignoring
what customers say
is wrong with your
product, service or
even industry is a
missed opportunity
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Are Your A Leader Or A Follower?
By Phyllis Smith
It takes a certain type of person to be a
leader. Were they born with leadership
abilities or did they grow into that role.
It’s amazing to see so many people
follow specific leaders. Whether it’s a
teacher who they admired, or a parent
who provided guidance; perhaps a boss
who gave them their first opportunity or a
celebrity standing up for a cause. Where
would some of these followers be if it
weren’t for some of these leaders doing
something perceived by others to be
special? By the way, not everyone needs
to be recognized by all to be a significant
influence on others.
From my perspective, there are some
people that have absolutely no desire
to become a leader. They are satisfied
with following others who lead them or
influence them. There’s nothing wrong
with someone who doesn’t have the
desire to be a leader. However, the
followers tend to sit back and wait
for leaders to show them the way.
They don’t categorize themselves
as trendsetters or create paths for
success. Followers tend to go with
the flow and allow others to build
paths for each person to grow in
business and life. I don’t really
think followers have the drive that
is required to be a leader.
Why are leaders different? Leaders
are not complacent nor easily
satisfied with the current state of
things. They stretch themselves
both physically and mentally every
waking hour. Leaders are on a neverending
journey to achieve more in their
jobs, life and careers. They never sit
back and wait for others because they are
usually at the front of the line pushing
their way forward through life. Many of
them have created strategic plans for
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their lives and those that they lead.
So the question arises – why aren’t there
more leaders in this world? Is it lack of
education, or more importantly, lack of
confidence? Do we raise our children in
our own image? Are we victims of our
environment or culture? Whatever the
reason – every person has the ability to
become a leader. Each person needs to
stand up, push forward and recognize their
own individual talents. When they come
to that realization, they can share those
individual talents with others and label
themselves as “Leaders”.
Phyllis Smith is the Founder of the
International Professional Women’s Business
Network; http://www.pwbn.org
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