SOWBO Magazine 1st edition

Page

Editors Corner
Tonya?s Talk
Financial Facts
Getting back to basics
Life Insurance
Trailblazers in Business
Featured Story
The Barbershop Talk
From A King To My Queens
Taking Care of your -Mind, Body, Nutrition
Stand Up In Yourself
Healthy Eating In 10 Steps
Author?s Spotlight
FEATURED STORY
Vanessa Jackson
The Cheesecake Lady
Transitioning for change
Changing Jobs
Events/Conferences
Edit or-in- Chief Tonya D. Lat ney
Graph Designer Andrea Smith, SAS Web & Graphic Design
Editorial Assistant - Tammy Keitt
Photographer Cover- John Berry
Cont ribut ing Writ ers
Vanessa Jackson, Colena Brown, Karen Southhall -Watts, Simmone Anderson,
Florence Norville- Cheek, Stephen H. Goldstein, Jeermal Sylvester
GETTING CONNECTED
SOWBO Magazine Society of Women Business Owners
Emails: Sowbo12@gmail.com SOWBO@societyofwomenbusinessowners.com
Website: http://www.societyofwomenbusinessowners.com
Telephone:1-888- 702-7428

From t he Edit or
Tonya Lat ney,MS, BSN,RN,CWP Edit or -in- Chief
?Connecting With Your More?
I was recently sitting with a young woman on an airplane. For some reason, I looked at her and asked,
?Are you in the military?? She said, ?OMG, how did you know that?? I laughed and said,?You have the
look, and, plus, your backpack was a giveaway.?
We laughed, and she began sharing with me how she recently joined the military and how she loved it.
She stated, ?It?s what I was born to do.? She started sharing how a year ago she was in college, but she
was not happy; she was feeling empty even though she was in school working toward her future. She
said, ?One day, I said to myself, there has to be more than this for me.? That?s when she decided to join
the armed forces. I smiled as she was talking because she had found her ?more.?
Have you ever asked or told yourself ?it has to be more than this for me??
Some of you may not even know what you want to do, but one thing is true: you need to make a change
from what you are doing. The empty feeling will ultimately make you feel unhappy and unfulfilled. How
does one start the process of finding that more? It is my belief that you must first get quiet, take time,
and stop the busyness in your life. You need to let your inner being and outer being connect with the
universe. In this process, you have to learn how to hear your inner voice or spirit speak and guide you.
Your inner spirit and the universe must connect. When that connection takes place, you will begin the
changes to find your more. Over time, your more will be revealed to you. Your more may have always
been in you, but because you never looked deep inside it could not be revealed. It is my belief that
everyone?s more lies deep within them.
Your more may be a problem you are here on earth to solve.
So, if you are in search of your more, ask yourself, ?What problem am I here to solve in this world?? Then
get quiet!
Making changes is rarely easy, and you may feel somewhat trapped in your every day life of working,
bills, and life responsibilities.
Have faith and stay focused! Human beings should not feel empty and just exist.
You are right! There is more. Find it! Purpose gives you power to truly live, not just exist.
Tonya Lat ney, MS, BSN, RN, CWP
I would love your comments and/or questions.
E-mail: sowbo12@gmail.com Twitter:@sowbo12
Instagram: sowbo12
3

Getting Back To Basics
Why A Financial Game Plan Is So Important
Florence Norville-Cheek, MBA
4

ecome overwhelmed if you think about all your needs at
once. Instead, try taking it one step at a time, starting with
the basics:
Build an em ergency fund? No matter where you
are in life, it?s important to set aside 8-10 months of living
expenses. You don?t have to do it all at once, but every
dollar you save today is a dollar you won?t have to borrow
if something unexpected happens.
Prot ect your hom e and fam ily? Most of us have
people who depend on us to keep a roof over their heads
and food on their plates. That?s a big responsibility, but it?s
one life insurance can help you meet? even if something
tragic takes you away. You can start with an affordable
term life plan at first, and then add more coverage as
your needs and budget grow.
Prepare for m ajor expenses like college? As a
parent or grandparent, you naturally want the best for
your loved ones. Now?s the time to start a college or
wedding fund so they won?t have to go into debt to make
their dreams for the future come true.
M any of us are familiar with the expression,
?failing to plan is planning to fail.? As an Agent with New
York Life, I can assure you that? when it comes to
financial goals and objectives? this old adage still rings
true.
In fact, it may be more relevant than ever.
It isn?t always easy for some Americans to make
financial headway. With pensions in decline and interest
rates only just starting to inch up near historic lows, it
usually takes persistence and sound planning in order to
get ahead.
Not sure how to begin? That?s okay? it?s easy to
Get ready for ret irem ent - There are plennty of
ways to set aside money for retirement: 401(k)s, IRAs,
and fixed deferred annuities* just to name a few. But
they all have one thing in common? the sooner you
start, the better off you?ll be in the long run. Try to
increase your contributions over time? perhaps 1% with
each raise? or, if you are age 50 or older, look into some
of the ?catch-up?provisions that may allow you to
contribute even more.
While the economy is starting to grow, it still makes
sense to stay focused on the things that really matter. A
sound financial game plan can help us accomplish many
things? but perhaps the most important is making sure
we never lose sight of them again.
To learn more about the information or topics
discussed, please contact
FLORENCE NORVILLE-CHEEK,MBA
Agent ,
New York Life Insurance Com pany
610-660-7696
5

6

In its simplest form, life insurance is a promise
between an insurance company and you, the
policy owner. If you pay a certain amount of
money (premium) to the insurance company, the insurance
company will pay a certain amount of money (death benefit) to
the person (beneficiary) you tell the insurance company to when
the person whose life is being insured dies.
There are many types of life insurance. Term insurance only
provides a death benefit for a limited period of time. By contrast
permanent insurance can provide a death benefit and the
potential to build policy cash value that you can access during
your lifetime using policy loans and withdrawals.
STEPHEN H. GOLDSTEIN
7

i
Permanent insurance can also offer the flexibility to
increase or decrease your death benefit as your needs
change, as well as the potential to reduce or skip premium
payments. 2
ASSESS LIFE INSURANCE NEEDS
Let?s examine the amount of life insurance you
may need. If your family relies on your income, it?s critical to
consider having enough life insurance to provide for them
after you pass away. But too often, life insurance is an
overlooked aspect of personal finances.
In fact, according to a study conducted by LIMRA, which
closely follows life insurance trends, less t han half of U.S.
households say t hey have individual life insurance
coverage, and 40% of Am ericans say t hey need m ore
coverage. 3
Recognizing the role life insurance can play in your family
finances is an important first step. A critical second step is
determining how much life insurance you may need.
RULE OF THUMB
One widely followed rule of thumb for estimating a
person?s insurance needs is based on income. Some will say
a person needs a life insurance policy that is five times his or
her annual income. Others recommend up to ten times
annual income. But if you are looking for a more accurate
estimate, consider completing a ?DNA test.? A DNA test is a
Detailed Needs Analysis that takes into account a wide range
of financial commitments to help better estimate insurance
needs. The first step is to add up needs and obligations.
a primary wage-earner's death. Source: LIMRA, 2016
LIQUID ASSETS
Any assets that can be redeemed quickly and for a
predictable price are considered liquid.
Generally, houses and cars are not considered
liquid assets since they may require time to sell.
Also, remember that selling a home or a car may adjust a
family?s current standard of living.
YOUR LIFE INSURANCE NEED
Needs and obligations ? minus liquid assets ?
can help you get a better idea about the amount
of life insurance coverage you may need. While
this exercise is a good start to understanding your insurance
needs, a more detailed review may be necessary to better
assess your situation.
Are you ready to take control of your financial
future? Let?s talk.
Stephen H. Goldstein
Key Advisors
1400 N Providence Rd
Suite 117
Media, PA 19063
P 610-891- 9700
C 267-273- 5273 - F 610-892- 2900
Goldstein_Stephen@nlgroupmail.com
SHORT-TERM NEEDS
Which funds will need to be available for final expenses,
such as a funeral, final medical bills, and any outstanding
debts, such as credit cards or personal loans? How much to
make available for short-term needs will depend on your
individual situation.
LONG-TERM NEEDS
How much will it cost to maintain your family?s standard of
living? How much is spent on necessities like housing, food,
and clothing? Also, consider factoring in expenses such as
travel and entertainment. Answering the question, ?What
would it cost per year to maintain this lifestyle?? is good
place to start.
NEW OBLIGATIONS
What additional expenses may arise in the future? What
family consideration will need to be addressed, especially if
there are young children? Will aging parents need some kind
of support? How about college costs? Factoring in potential
new obligations allows for a more accurate picture of
ongoing financial needs. Next, subtract all current assets
available. Fast Fact: 70% of households say they would have
trouble covering everyday living expenses within months of
8

9

Featured Story
Vanessa Jackson
Owner
The Cheesecake Lady
What motivated you to start your business?
It's funny how The Cheesecake Lady got its start because I
never tasted cheesecake until I was 34 years old. The very
thought of cheese in a cake was reprehensible in my mind
(silly me)! In December, 1999, my employer took the staff
to the Macaroni Grill for a Christmas luncheon. Almost
everyone ordered cheesecake. When they discovered I had
never had it, there was a major production to get me to try
it. I did and it was the best thing I ever tasted. After that, I
found myself driving to the Macaroni Grill after church
every Sunday for cheesecake for my kids and me. Realizing
I could not afford to keep up my habit, I decided to learn
how to make them.
During this time, I was on the Atkins Diet so I decided to
make a low carb version from a recipe off the Equal box.
The results were disappointing. Therefore, I decided toplay
around and try different things. I discovered that the
better the brand named ingredient, the better the
cheesecake. After many taste tests and lots of advice and
criticism from my favorite Aunt Ree (R.I.P.), I knew I finally
nailed it because all she could say was, THAAAAATT
CHEESECAKE...!, over and over again.
Discuss som e inform at ion on how you got st art ed?
My aunt started telling people at our church that
I sell cheesecake. When I told her I did not.
She said you do now.
When did you start your business and where?
10

My aunt started telling people at our church that I sell
cheesecake. When I told her I did not. She said you do
now.
When did you st art your business and w here?
I started my business at home and was selling cakes
out of the trunk of my car after church. I would make
whole cakes and slice them. It was very messy and
annoyed me so I stopped. A few years later, I came
across the mini pans and a light bulb went off. No more
slicing and beautiful presentation, which meant
everything to me.
Why do you t hink having your ow n business is
im port ant ?
I went to school for business so I had the Associates in
Business when I started The Cheesecake Lady but right
after I received my Bachelors in Business I opened my
first store front. The timing was just right! I have always
liked having my own money and would babysit or type
letters and do other desktop publishing jobs for people
for a couple of dollars while in high school.
You make up your mind to work long hours instead of
hanging out with a friend or you decide to not get paid
for those extra hours and close the store early so you can
go to a family function. You have to make it work
What is t he one w ord t hat sum up you?
Determined.
My advice to anyone starting a business is put the time
in! Think about what you have and why it is special. If
people are always talking about your gifts and you feel
people can benefit from what you have, go for it! Know
that it is a process ? filled with ups, downs and pitfalls.
Learn from each process and do not give up unless you
really want to. I want to give special thanks to all the
people who have loved our product and us over all these
years and who refuse to let us quit. I am looking forward
to our new ventures and cannot wait toshare it with you
all soon.
We are currently looking for a new storefront but can be
reached by phone at 267.575.3952 or on Facebook
@cheesecakelady.org, on Instagram @philacheesecake.
How do you st ay focused and balanced w it h your
business and everyday life?
When I first started it was hard because I had small
children but it was okay because I was working in the
house so I could be with them. In addition, we really
needed the money at that time. It also taught them the
value of hard work and owning your own business. In
the end, it was a win-win. Now everyone is all grown up
and I have no one to answer to so it is even easier.
11

SWES Cleaning Co.
Commercial Cleaning With A Unique Touch
MONICA ROBINSON, OWNER/AYINDE ROBINSON, OWNER
Office: 215-995-1478
Women Owned/Minority Owned
swescleaningco@outlook.com
www.swescleaning.com
12

13

From A King to My Queens
Please Pick Up Your Invisible CROWN
14

Barbershop Talk
Jeerm al Sylvest er
M y black women, you are royalty don't diminish your
womanhood. You are queens. You are princesses that are
becoming queens. You are goddesses. Without you, there
would be no us.
You walk with confidence, strength, style, grace, and most of
all beauty. Nothing or no one compares to the black woman
for you have overcome so much over the years and have
proven your superiority. Society loves to tell you how you
should be and how you should look, however, it doesn't stop
you from doing what you do like only you can do it.
My challenge to you all, young and old is to always wear your
invisible crown. You have gotten a bad wrap because of those
that don't know their worth or who they are. From those that
continue to give in to the pressures of the world and allow
themselves to be mistreated and belittled just to keep up with
the Jones. I know my Nubian queens you haven't always been
treated fairly and I'm sorry but I have to say that none of that
should ever cause you to forget who you are...QUEENS.
all that you do, for all that you have endured for so many
years and for carrying the weight. I salute you and I speak life
into you and over you, as a King, I say "proud, strong and
fearless black woman raise your head and show the world
your crown "it's your time to shine".
My definition of a Queen- means to be amazing and believing
that you are. Having confidence and not allowing anyone to
tell you or treat you differently. Respecting your temple,
embracing your individuality, putting yourself first on your
search to find true happiness.
John Mitchell said, "The finest STEEL has to go through the
HOTTEST FIRE" you all are fine and you all are strong even
though you don't always like to go through it we know that it's
a vital part of the process into making you who and what you
are called to BE....QUEENS. One love!
In a world that is so confused and suffering from an identity
crisis, I ask you, my QUEENS, to remember who your
ancestors were but more importantly who you are. Our young
ladies are badly in need of a real example of what a woman is
and how she should conduct herself from day to day. The
false images they see on TV, in these music videos and those
that are being talked about in the music is not what they need
to see, hear or want to be. That's why the queens of the world
have to be on their post every day no matter what to give
them a clear picture of what a QUEEN is and what a QUEENS
do regardless of what life has thrown their way. You all were
given an imperishable crown and somewhere along the line
life beat you up and beat you down so much that your crown
fell off. I need you to know that you are amazing and you are
uniquely made. I ask that all my strong, powerful and proud
sisters please pick up your crowns and wear it with pride.
There is no man, job or title that can validate your worth only
you can do that. You have so much to offer and contribute to
the world but you have to walk with your head held high in
spite of everything. Show the world your greatness and more
importantly show the world that you are and always will be
QUEENS.
Jeerm al Sylvest er
From one KING to all the Queens of the world THANK YOU for
15

Stand Up
In
Yourself!
Let?s start this conversation about what I believe is the root of
most of the dysfunction in our community. Sham e, Blam e, Guilt
and Judgm ent . I call them the three sisters and their brother. It is
a lengthy process to understand the depth to which these siblings
impact our day to day life. Understanding begins once the
individual, assisted by a mental health clinician (individual therapy
sessions), starts the journey of self-discovery. It will take several
conversations to completely understand, however, the longest
journey starts with the first step. Let?s get to stepping; during the
sessions, we want to begin to examine our belief system, which is
created/developed/conditioned by our environment and taking
the siblings and talking about them one at a time, we?ll start with
Sham e.
During our developmental years, we are impacted directly and
indirectly by messages that either fosters a healthy sense of self
or damages our sense of self. It is safe to say that no healthy
parents plan or wants to damage their children?s sense of self.
This reality is; however, most parents have no real understanding
of what damages a developing self of sense. Even the most
well-meaning parents can have an unhealthy impact on their
child?s sense of self. Shame: The painful feeling arising from the
consciousness of something dishonorable, disgrace, and/or
16

"I call them the
thr ee sister s
and their
br other.."
Article Title
-Colena Brown,
License Professional Counselor (LPC)
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sadipscing elitr, sed diam
It is important to understand that when Shame is
self-inflicted, it is coming from your original orientation,
the conditioning during your developmental years
(someone/something taught you to be ashamed). You get
these definitions of what is dishonorable, a disgrace and
improper from our parent?s environment in their attempt
to teach us right from wrong. Most parents find it
necessary to teach these lessons of right and wrong, good
and bad to their very young children. In most cases, by
any means necessary, believing often time that the lesson
is taught through pain and embarrassment. The limited
understanding most parents have of brain development,
child development and/or personality development,
makes it difficult for them to create that healthy
environment that will nurture a child?s sense of self.
Shame seeps into the environment, undetected and
wreaks havoc. Something as simple as a nickname, a style
of dress, a traditional way of saying or doing most any
ritual that is far out last its benefit. ?In my practice, I have
met several parents who had ?knockdown, drag out
fights,? with their children because the child got to a
certain age and wanted to change his/her name.? My
suggestion has always been to, of course have a
conversation with the child to understand why a name
change was important. In most, if not all cases, it had to
do with some form of self-identity. Which goes back to the
need to understand the methods and techniques of
developing a healthy sense of self in our children.
that increases and encourages parental understanding of
the dangers to their child?s sense of self; in the numerous
ways Shame presents itself in their environment. There is
a large body of information available to support parents in
their efforts to create healthy environments for their
children. My hope is that, this conversation sparks a fire
that heats up and we continue the flame burning; as our
knowledge of brain development, child development
and/or personality development increases, and the result
being a world where Shame is no longer a part of the
conversation..
.Cont act informat ion:
Colena Brown, LPC
1-888- 686-5010
www.rwmservices.com
colenamarie@rwmservices.com
There are countless ways Shame finds itself in our
communities, this conversation is to begin the talk about
and increase the understanding of the importance of a
healthy environment during our original orientation.
Moving forward, we want to be a part of the movement
17

Author's Spotlight
Be encouraged and inspired by the thought
provoking writings of these Authors.
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Destiny Tours & Travel
CRYSTAL PEURIFOY, OWNER
Travel To The Destination You Always Dreamed Of
45 E. City Line Ave. #318
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Office: 215-873-73124 Fax: 856-668-5838
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Email: destourtrav@cs.com
18

Ar e Your
Closest
Relationships
Suppor ting
You?
-Darlania Rose
This was a hard subject. I
recognized this in my own life. It?s very
hard to admit. That someone in your
life doesn?t want you to win. They would
rather see you down. busted and
disgusted, broke as a joke.
They love you that way. If the come
up is imminent baby you better watch
your back! So many peoplein our lives
that we think got our backs but, upon
examination we may find that is not
true. Family and our closest friends can
suffer from jealousy, envy and it can
show up in some real ugly ways. We feel
something because our intuition tells
us. What do we do? Brush it off, no not
him/her they love me.
We think we are imagining this.
Maya Angelou said, ?When someone
shows you who they are, believe them!?
We can really be held back from
achieving our goals by the people we
least suspect, those closest to us.
Although it might be hard to accept, the
people you?re the most well acquainted
with might be working against you,
whether they realize it or not.
They act as obstacles, preventing
you from doing the things you love or
pursuing your dream job. They might
say things that make you rethink the
path you want to go down, or make you
feel as if you won?t be good enough to
make it to your goals ? especially if
you?re trying to launch a new career
path for something like online
entrepreneurial efforts. They are slowly
but surely eating away at your
self-confidence. People around me
used to say ?what are you doing now
Darlainaaaaa! Geez make up your
mind!? or they would say ?Tommy you
know you ain?t got no job!? It was
hurtful. Especially when I was serious
about the transition I was making. I am
all the way grown now! I can spot it a
mile away.
However, it?s not always that clear.
Your friends and family will have
different ways of interfering with your
personal satisfaction. Some might be
very straightforward and blunt, telling
you that your goals are unrealistic or
that you?re not good enough to achieve
them. I?m not good enough, you mean
I?m not smart enough to figure this out.
How hurtful can you be?
The most dangerous kind are the
ones who disguise their blocking as an
attempt to help you. They might tell you
to not pursue your dreams in the name
of job security or some other excuse.
My one friend told me I should have
stayed at a job that underpaid me and
the boss was abusive because it was a
?GOOD JOB?! If I would have stayed
there you would not be reading this
now. The many I now coach on a day to
day basis would not be getting that
service either. Those that have heard
me speak would never have heard that
either. I am thankful for my intuition
and the real people who support my
vision.
They could try to steer you in
another direction, assuring you it?s the
best path for you. Only you know what?s
best for you. Even if your closest
relationships are acting as obstacles,
you can?t just cut out everyone who?s
important in your life. However, you can
keep your dreams and goals protected
by not sharing them with everyone. The
vision was give to you not them. Guess
what, they don?t have to see it! It?s
yours!
If you just started seeing someone
and they wanted you to stop pursuing
your dreams, then perhaps it?s be a
good idea to stop seeing them.
However, how could you cut out your
own parents if they tried to steer you
towards a different career?

You must be able to set a certain boundary in which you
consider their advice if they give it to you, and respectfully
decline it if you don?t agree with it. However, if they began
to insult your career choice or goals, then they would be
crossing the boundary you set.
Once people cross your boundaries, you must make the
decision of whether you should keep them in your life or
distance yourself from them. You should weigh their
positive and negative benefits, and if they?re an overall
drag on your happiness, there?s no reason to keep them
around ? at least not on a continual basis.
Let them know that they?re bringing you down, and you?re
not going to associate with them until they change their
ways. If you find you don?t have the courage to tell them
what they are doing, that?s ok too! Just find ways to make
yourself scarce until you find the courage. Sometimes
silence is best, and actions will speak for themselves. The
alternative can be very detrimental. If you let these people
stick around in your life and tell you how to live it, you?ll
end up unhappy and dissatisfied. I always say you only get
one life to live. This is not dress rehearsal, this is the live
show! Make it the best show ever!!
Darlaina Rose Twitter/FB/IG :Darlaina Rose
Health and Wellness Coach
www.DarlainaRose.com
Info@darlainarose.com
267-521- 2001
"I am thankful for my intuition and the real people
who support my vision."

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First make sure to keep your skills, especially those around
technology up-to- date. Don?t go to that first interview without
refreshing your skill set. Use a functional resume if you can to
help make gaps less noticeable so you can get to the interview
phase. However, after you get to the hiring manager, go ahead
and explain your time away from work. Research out of
Vanderbilt Law School shows that sharing personal information
about your time away increases your chances of being hired.
Employers don?t like surprises or mystery. Finally, when you
re-enter the workforce after a long absence, refresh your
appearance too. Make sure that your clothes still fit (a common
post baby concern), and that your look is current and
professional.
Maybe you?ve been steadily employed and your next
transition is from worker to boss. Moving into a management
position can be just as stressful as landing your first job. Along
with a new title and hopefully bigger paycheck comes a whole
new reality. Like it or not, you just became a role model. This
means no dragging in late, skipping out early or complaining
about everything. though it?s unlikely you got promoted if you
were doing a lot of these negative behaviors. Now everyone is
watching and you need to model the kind of attitude and work
habits you want to see in those you supervise.
Karen Sout hall Wat t s
Transit ions ? Changing Jobs
M ost of us have heard all our lives about
change being the only constant in life. Friends and
family nod their heads and intone words of wisdom
about how we need to adapt and adjust and just ?get
on with it.? Yet, all this knowledge and advice doesn?t
make life?s transitions easier,especially in the
workplace. Changing jobs or career paths can be hard.
Here are four typical transitions and some coping
strategies.
Re-ent ering t he w orkforce. Families grow and
change all the time, and new babies, sick spouses or
ailing parents often mean time out of the traditional
workforce. Leaving the professional realm for months
or even years for care-taking duty can be a gift to your
family and toxic to your career. Time at home creates
the dreaded resume gap? the kiss of death in some
HR circles. What can you do?
As a newly minted boss you will also need to recommit
to learning and listening. The way to help your subordinates
succeed is to be open; remember how much you hated that
boss who would not listen. Try to find a mentor within your
company. If you can?t then commit to reading, watching videos
or participating in professional development workshops every
month. Work at being a good boss, and don?t just settle for the
new title.
If you really want a taste of being in charge it might be
time to move from corporate work to entrepreneurship. This
can be an exciting transition, but it?s filled with unique risks.
Once you?ve decided to take the entrepreneur plunge, and I
highly recommend some coaching and reflection first, then it?s
time to reshape your world. As an entrepreneur you will need
to:
Provide all your own motivation? there?s no boss pushing you
Create all your own structure? the workday, your schedule,
your methods are all up to you
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Build a support network? advisory board,
accountability partner, or supportive peers? don?t go it
alone
Those first few months of entrepreneurship can be
tough. Business owners who work from home may find
they gain weight. After all the kitchen is just steps away.
Consider putting your home office in a part of the house
without a view of the refrigerator. Family dynamics may
change and become stressful, especially if you are
expecting family members to work in the business.
Maybe you don?t want to open a business, but
you want to change industry or specialty. Not everyone is
blessed with clear and exact career knowledge by age
eighteen. Sometimes adults, even after years in one field,
decide they want or need to change directions. The
bookkeeper who becomes an artist, the engineer who
goes into teaching, or the X-ray tech who becomes an
artisan bread baker are examples of mid-life career
transitions. These changes can be particularly thrilling as
you finally step out to do what you?ve ?always wanted.?
However, our modern culture still isn?t quite as flexible or
forgiving of adults exploring their talents as some of us
had hoped, so be prepared for some stumbling blocks.
People will sometimes be mystified by you
leaving an established career path for something new.
Remember that comments, well-meaning advice, and
interference is not always motivated by genuine desire to
help, but jealousy. Choose your advisers carefully. Your
resume will need a total overhaul and you should
highlight the kind of work you want to do in the future
and not what you did in the past. Changing fields is a time
when it?s worth it to
consult with a job coach or resume doctor.
Finally, be prepared to start at the bottom, again.
As you change career paths you will once again
be considered a newbie. This might mean you
need to build up your savings, to account for a
lower salary, and toughen your resolve for
working your way up the ladder in a new world.
The one job for a lifetime followed by a gold
watch ceremony and fat retirement package is a
thing of the past. It never really existed for many
parts of society anyway. Career transitions are
the norm. Accepting that you WILL be changing
jobs at some point is the first step to
approaching that change with confidence.
About t he aut hor: In 2005 Karen Southall Watts
drove across the United States alone to begin a
new phase of her life and career on the west
coast. Now residing in Vancouver BC, Karen has
been a business consultant, college instructor,
coach and speaker since 1999, and she
continues to teach Humanities for Bellingham
Technical College. She is the author of
Messenger: The Entrepreneur?s Guide to
Communication, and Ask and Achieve: Questions
in the middle of a womens life.
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EVENTS/CONFERENCES
TONI HARDMAN
Makeup Artist and Skincare Specialist
email:tigertonimac@yahoo.com
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25

Music Spotlight
Patrice And The Show
www.patriceandtheshow.com
26

FITNESS
Simmone Anderson
You would be surprised at how something as personal
as crushing a healthy eating goal can empower and
embolden a business owner to crush bigger goals for
their business. Controlling our eating habits is one of
the main issues that people struggle with and by
overcoming it we feel like we can conquer the world.
And we CAN? if we do it SMART:
1. Set SMART Goals
For example, instead of saying, ?I?m going to eat
healthier,? try this:
Specific ? increase fruits and vegetables Measurable ?
1 extra fruit and 2 extra vegetables At t ainable ? before
lunchtime Realistic ? each w eekday Tim e-Bound ? for
the next 30 days Translat ion: ?For the next 30 days, I
will increase my fruit and vegetable intake by one extra
fruit and two extra vegetables each weekday, to be
eaten before lunchtime.?
2. Writ e It Dow n A goal in your head is just a good
idea. A goal on paper is a contract. Write it down, sign
it, and date it. Put it somewhere where you can see it
every day (bathroom mirror, next to car keys, taped to
your laptop monitor)
3. Be Proud, Say It Loud A goal is not a dirty little
secret you get to keep to yourself just in case you don?t
achieve it. Put yourself out there and make it real. Tell
someone you trust and who will support you and hold
you accountable. A goal that you didn?t tell anyone
about is easier to miss than one that you declare out
loud. So say it out loud and be proud.
a lifestyle.
5. Plan For Your Goal What do you need to
accomplish your goal? What preparation do you need
to make to set yourself up for success? Using the
example, you should consider grocery shopping in
advance to help stay on track instead of buying fruits
and vegetables each day because, life happens. If you
?stay ready?, you?ll never have to ?get ready? and you
decrease the chance of falling off before you really get
started.
6. Ident ify The Obst acles You know yourself best so,
again, be realistic. This is no time for pie-in-the-sky
dreams. The letdown of not meeting the goal could be
devastating if you?re not careful. What could possibly
trip you up from missing your goal or making you
abandon it altogether? Using the example, do you take
irregular lunch breaks or no lunch breaks at all? Then
change the time-bound part of your goal to something
achievable like ?before I leave work for the day.? Are
you without an office refrigerator? somebody else?s
why but your very own why. Why do you want to
increase your fruit/veggie intake? HowThen either
bring fruits and veggies that don?t need refrigeration or
purchase cooling packs for your lunch bag.
7. Know YOUR Why Not will it make you feel when
you achieve this goal? Your why will help keep you in
the game so keep it top-of-mind so that you can crush
it.
4. Com m it To Your Goal What day will you start? How
long will you be realistically able to keep it up? Are you
a long term person or do you have a short attention
span? Be real to yourself and your capabilities. Try a
short term goal to see if you can hold yourself
accountable. 30 days is only 4 weeks. If you can hold
your goal for 4 weeks you may have a shot at making it
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8. Choose Your Rew ard In Advance Choosing your
reward in advance is an unconscious declaration that you
will meet the goal. You gotta claim it! Make the reward
complementary with the amount of work or effort.
Treating yourself to a trinket from Tiffany?s as a reward
for eating 5 apples and 10 vegetables in one week is a bit
extreme. Do not choose a food-related goal. Treating
yourself to the movies is great. Adding concession food
like hot dogs, popcorn, and soda is undermining. Make
the reward count! Make it something you can brag to
your accountability partner about. Have fun with it. A
nice little reward can help you press toward the next goal
or the next benchmark.
9. Assess Your Goal Regularly Review, Revise, and
Redirect. Review weekly for progress, regress, or issues.
Did you notice positive or negative outcomes? Were
there any physical changes (more runs to the restroom);
emotional changes (more upbeat and positive); mental
changes (more clarity and focus); social changes (more
engaging and friendly)? What held you back or kept you
going? Revise what didn?t work. Using the example,
change fruit varieties if 5 apples was too boring. Mix up
the veggies to include steamed and stir fry if you?re
already sick of raw carrots by week one. Consider
throwing everything in a smoothie for breakfast and
drinking your fruits and veggies at once. Redirect your
efforts from sabotaging behaviors. Using the example,
wake up earlier to pack your lunch bag. Prep your lunch
bag the night before. Take a day to portion your fruits
and veggies into 5 grab and go portions. Think outside
the box and do whatever it takes to hit the goal.
frequently slip up. And remember, one step forward is
better than standing still. So keep pushing.
Bonus Step: Set a New Goal! Don?t stop the momentum.
Keep it going! Before you know it your eating habits will
look dramatically different and you won?t feel like you?ve
tortured yourself in the process. And you never know,
your employees and clients may notice the positive
changes and decide to set a few goals for themselves.
About: Simmone Anderson is a Coach, Strategist, and
Consultant and owner of The North Street Group, a
Personal Financial Risk Management agency. She?s also a
Certified Lifestyle Weight Loss Specialist and Certified
Personal Fitness Chef who caters to busy professionals
and entrepreneurs. Simmone runs two online challenge
communities: the 10 Day Green Smoothie Jump start and
the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge in order to help
people set and crush small goals. Her latest online
community, Healthy Wealthy & Wise, combines her
passions - she truly believes that ?The health of a
business is in direct proportion to the health of the
business owner.? Like and follow Simmone Anderson on
her Facebook page.
10. Progress Not Perfect ion It?s okay to desire to be
perfect during the goal period. But what?s not okay is to
beat yourself up about it or obsess over a mistake. That
counterproductive behavior could hurt you in the long
run. And it just takes the fun out of hitting the goal. This
should be a labor of love. You labor because you love
yourself. Don?t be too hard on yourself if you occasionally
slip up. But don?t be too lenient with yourself if you
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29

It ?s t im e t o t ake flight t o your dream
St eps t o st art ing a journey t o your dream
1. Believe & trust in your dream
2. Visualize your dream
3. Write your dream down
4. Set long term & short term goals with deadline/target dates
5. Connect with like-minded people
6. Start your Business Binder
7. Anticipate the changes that may need to change to reach
your dream
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31

Business Directory
The Debra Tucker Agency
Life Home Auto Commercial Specialty
225 Berlin Rd. Suite 2
Cherry Hill, NJ 08025
Office: 856-429-0288 Cell: 856-630-9141
Phlembotomy Healthcare , LLC
Stephanie Hill, Associate
Dawn A. Huling, OWNER
Phlembotomy Healthcare Leading The Way On Stick At A TIme
Office: 267-230-9919
Cell: 267-900-2610
phlembotomyhealthcare@aol.com
Independent Associate Representing Aflac
1020 N. Delaware Ave, 4th Flr.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
Office: 215-344-0244 ext. 210
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self care is everything
DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU!