Ventures Winter 2017

Ventures Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

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STEPS To Taking

Risks To ENHANCE Your Business Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN Chair

Being an entrepreneur and taking risks go hand in hand. I have definitely taken risks in the hopes of enhancing my business that both went well and did not.

For example, I’ve had success with a risk I took when I decided to start a virtual private practice all by myself. Prior to that, I was an associate at another private practice owned by a fellow dietitian. Venturing off on my own was scary, but it worked and was profitable. On the flipside, I don’t like to label other ventures that weren’t as profitable as failures because I learned from those experiences. Taking a risk means sometimes it pans out and other times you need to make adjustments or revisions in order to get to your goal outcome.

Here are four steps on how to effectively take a risk to enhance your business.

1. Look for New Opportunities. Be open to new opportunities that may come your way which could be innovative and relate to how the market is evolving. My previous private practice was thinning out. I noticed most clients didn’t want to come downtown into the office. I started offering virtual meetings and business picked up.

2. Keep a Critical Eye. Opportunity knocks a lot. Don’t jump into everything without taking time to determine the return on investment in both financial gains and time/ energy needed to pursue the opportunity.

3. Develop S.M.A.R.T. goals. After you determine what your goal is, make a plan that includes specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely goals to help provide tangible action items to do.

4. Be Ready for Plan B. Sometimes the course we start to take doesn’t go as we hoped.

Something unexpected may pop up that inhibits what you originally planned to do.

Developing another plan can help resolve the situation. For example, after I went virtual, some clients still wanted to meet inperson. Instead of paying a lease on an office, I found a company which rents affordable offices by the hour to accommodate those few clients.

“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.”

- Oprah Winfrey.

Winter 2017 Volume XXXIII Number 3 Risk Taking for Success: What Works and What Doesn’t

In This Issue: Four Steps To Taking Risks To Enhance Your Business �������������� 1 Newsletter Editor Letter ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2 Blazing Your Own Risky (but Happy) Trail �������������������������������������� 3 Members on the Move ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 4 The Road to Reward ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Academy Second Century Collaboration Opportunity Areas �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 50:50 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 7 Fear and Risk �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 Three Questions to Ask Before Risk-Taking ���������������������������������� 8 Pursue Possibilities �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Where There is Passion,There is Only Challenge (Not Risk) ����10 Magic 8-Ball Says ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 The ABCs of Risk Taking: How to Turn Fear into Motivation ����������������������������������������������������11 Is It Writer’s Block or Risk Aversion? ��������������������������������������������������12 Tricks for Those Who Are Risk-Averse ����������������������������������������������12 Four Keys to Help You to Get Comfortable in Your Discomfort Zone, And Why It Matters ��������������������������������������������13 Risks & Rewards: Success Stories from Your Speakers & Media Colleagues ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 Only 85% Happy ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 Taking the Leap to Grow your Business ����������������������������������������15 Calculated Risk Taking for Success: Ten Examples from My Private Practice Experience ������������������������������������������������������������������16 Taking Risks for the Memory of It ������������������������������������������������������17

Chair - Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN: If you say “scuba diving trip,” Sarah will meet you there. In addition to her passion of food, she has a major passion for the ocean and tries to swim under the sea as often as possible. She’s traveled the world diving with the fish from Majuro to Cuba to Bonaire and more.

Risk or Adventure? ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17 Product Reviews ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18 Don’t Be Afraid, To Fall In Love ������������������������������������������������������������19 Mini Meetings ���������������������������������������������������������������������������Back Cover

Ventures EDITOR Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN, CLT, RYT

INCOMING EDITOR Rachael Hartley, RDN, LD, CDE, CLT

EDITORIAL BOARD, 2016-2017 Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN, CLT, RYT Rachael Hartley, RDN, LD, CDE, CLT Penny Wilson, PHD, RDN, LD Lauri Egan, RDN, CPT Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN The newsletter pertains to the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and reproduction rights are reserved. Publication of an advertisement in the Ventures newsletter should not be considered as an endorsement of the product or advertiser by the DPG. Viewpoints and statements in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect policies and/or positions of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. © 2015 Nutrition Entrepreneurs.

All rights reserved.

WE WELCOME INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS. PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR: Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN, CLT, RYT NewsletterEditor@NEdpg.org

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION NE members’ Ventures subscription year runs from June through May. Non-Academy members may purchase a one-year (five issues) subscription for $40. Contact NEadmin@NEdpg.org for subscription information.

ADDRESS CHANGES AND MISSING ISSUES If you have a change of address, please contact the Academy with your new address information. If you missed an issue, email Lauri Egan at NEadmin@NEdpg.org or call (513) 972-4668.

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Newsletter EDITOR LETTER

If Not Now, When?

Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN, CLT, RYT Newsletter Editor

A little over a year ago, my husband broke the news. He had accepted a new job in St. Louis and we were relocating from California in a little over a month. Cue the nerves, excitement and fear. What was I going to do for work? For the previous five years, I was slowly building my business on the side, very comfortable in the pace it was taking. I was waiting on the elusive, perfect moment when I would be able to make it my full-time venture, but the timing was never quite right.

Or, so I told myself.

Leaving my job and moving across the country was the best, and scariest, thing I’ve done in my entrepreneur journey. An “if not now, then when?” crossroads. A beautiful reminder that you’re never really ready, but now was the time to take my leap. I honestly don’t think I would have made the jump if it wasn’t for the forced change. Looking back, I’m grateful that I did. In my first year I surpassed my previous full-time income and just recently hired an assistant. That’s not to say that time wasn’t filled with trials and crippling self-doubt. Entrepreneurship, as many of you know, can be a rocky and unstable road. Though I was as prepared as I could have been, taking my business to the next step pushed me in ways I never thought possible. And, I’m so glad I did it.

You’re never really ready If I had waited until I was ready to branch out entirely on my own, I’d still be in my previous position. That’s not to say there isn’t benefit in calculated risks. I had worked for five years to build my contacts, my portfolio and my business confidence, all essential tools in making that first year a success. Being ready was an unrealistic milestone; I was confusing being ready with fear of doing. As Hugh Laurie brilliantly states, “There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now.

And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

Our Winter Issue celebrates personal and professional risks of all kind. You’ll hear tips and stories from colleagues who have faced - and embraced - their fears. When risks worked and when they didn’t. Momentum breeds momentum; I hope this issue of success, failure and risk-taking inspires the entrepreneur in you.

Newsletter Editor - Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN, CLT, RYT, author of Fresh Italian Cooking for the New Generation and music theatre fanatic. While her Broadway career lives only in her dreams, she knows the lyrics to almost every popular musical by heart and can often be found singing them in the shower, the car and into wooden spoon microphones in the kitchen.

ARTICAL CATEGORY

BLAZING YOUR OWN RISKY (but Happy) TRAIL Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN Chair-Elect When people think about “taking risks,” their minds may conjure up all the things that could go wrong, be lost, or damaged, because of taking that risk. As a person with an entrepreneurial spirit, you probably immediately think about all the excitement and the good things that may result from taking a risk, but at times are still uncomfortable with it.

Entrepreneurship involves risk. It’s exciting, but can also be scary at times. Certainly there is a monetary risk that must be taken along the way (investing money, losing a regular paycheck, having high and low years, etc.), but there are other sorts of risk relating to starting a business as well. Perhaps you realized you needed to begin speaking when, last you checked, you were petrified of getting up in front of a group. Some of you may have started writing a book you never thought you could write. An introvert might attend a networking session without knowing anyone in the room. Or maybe you decided to pitch an email to a successful person whom you’ve never met. These are all risks.

Risk almost always involves making a change, and change is what moves us forward. It might even be a change in your attitude or a change in the way you’ve always done things. I’d have to say that most successful entrepreneurs embrace change. As you navigate along your own risk-taking path, ask yourself these questions: nnIs the risk going to help me grow my business? Will I gain clients? Reach my salary goal? Expand market reach?

Become more productive? Communicate more effectively? nnIs the risk taking me out of my comfort zone? If so, is it putting new challenges within reach? nnIs the risk teaching me new things about myself? It’s important to explore your strengths and weaknesses to be a successful entrepreneur. When something isn’t as successful as you imagined, perhaps it didn’t play to your strengths.

Revise your plan accordingly.

Your life and career are launched on a unique path. Some of you may feel comfortable quitting a salaried job to start a business.

Others may choose to gradually ease out of one job and into the other, doing both parttime until you feel like your path is stable.

Some may invest large sums of money, some smaller amounts. There is no rule that says risk-taking has to look like jumping off a cliff.

It doesn’t. It can look like meandering along a bumpy path, moving to solid ground, taking a jump, then getting back on the path again.

If you blaze your own trail to get where you want to be, you’re succeeding.

Chair-Elect - Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN, author, factfinder and freelance writer, enjoys an ever-changing environment. Give her fresh air and she’s smiling.

Rosanne anxiously awaits the opening of her “outdoor home office” every spring in the Northeast. She can’t decide which she loves better - the ocean or the mountains - but it’s probably the ocean.

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Members on the Move

Penny Wilson, PHD, RDN, LD Past Chair

Shelley Case, RDN, released Gluten Free: The Definitive Resource Guide, a 368-page book featuring an overview of gluten-related disorders; foods/ingredients allowed and to avoid; meal plans; recipes; cooking/baking tips; healthy gluten-free living strategies; gluten/allergen labeling in the U.S. and Canada; resources; more than 3,700 gluten-free products; directory of over 220 companies; detailed reference section and more! This is a MUST-HAVE resource for consumers and dietitians needing evidencebased, practical information on the glutenfree diet. Visit www.shelleycase.com.

Jean Caton, MS, MBA, RDN: Color My World Confident Podcast has launched!

It is a podcast for professional women who want to boost their leadership confidence, escape the cubicle and start a business or make a radical career change. Available on ITunes, Stitcher Radio, i Heart Radio or at www.

ColorMyWorldConfident.com. Tune in for your infusion of confidence! Jean Caton, MS, MBA, RDN, Business Women’s Coach, Host Color My World Confident Podcast.

Susan Burke March, MEd, RDN, LD/N, CDE, lives in Cuenca, Ecuador, and is the Food, Nutrition and Health columnist for www.

CuencaHighLife.com.

Susan’s Friday column covers topics ranging from exploring the local foods to explaining the new dietary recommendations. She also presented numerous times to university students about possible careers in nutrition.

Susan loves living in Cuenca as an expat. You can write to her at sburkerd@gmail.com to learn more about her expat experience in Cuenca.

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Christy Harrison, MPH, RDN, CDN, recently launched an anti-diet nutrition advice column for Refinery29, a leading women’s lifestyle website. Christy is a registered dietitian, certified intuitive eating counselor and longtime journalist who has covered food and nutrition for more than 13 years. She also hosts Food Psych (www.foodpsychpod.com), a podcast dedicated to helping listeners make peace with food. Find her new column, “How to Eat,” every other week at www.refinery29. com.

Linda S. Eck Mills, MBA, RDN, LDN, FADA, spoke on nontraditional careers at the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association (MDA) and the American Overseas Dietetic Association (AODA) 2016 Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She was one of 37 speakers from 12 countries at the three-day conference that was attended by over 500 international attendees.

When Linda is not speaking, she provides career coaching in her business Dynamic Communication Services and works in correctional foodservice.

Angie & John Lamberson, RDNs, CDEs and each a Certified Integrative Health coach, are proud co-owners of Nutrition Pair, LLC. Nutrition Pair was recently honored as a recognized CDC Diabetes Prevention Program. This proven program helps people at risk for type 2 diabetes make achievable, realistic lifestyle changes. The classes will be delivered both onsite and online. Their free e-book 7 Simple Diet Hacks That Actually Improve Blood Sugars is also now available. For more information: www.NutritionPair.com.

Jennifer Neily, MS, RDN, LD, FAND: After a few years’ leave of absence from leadership, Jennifer Neily, MS, RDN, LD, FAND, owner of Neily on Nutrition, is excited to be the first Region Director representing the Northeast Region of Texas. After a strategic decision to restructure the state organization from 18 districts to five regions, the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics can better serve its membership of over 4,200. More CPEs. More networking. More inclusiveness. Come join us at www.eatrighttexas.org.

Dr. Jo® has recently partnered with Today’s Dietitian on a few projects.

Her 12-hour CEU for her latest book, Reboot – How to Power Up Your Energy, Focus, and Productivity, can be found at www. ce.todaysdietitian.com/ DrJoReboot. Discover her two-part webinar sleep series on 1) Sleep: Cycles, Rhythm, Health and Weight; and 2) Out-of-Sync Sleep: Chronotype, Jet Lag, Seasonality and Shiftwork at www.ce.todaysdietitian.com/ sleepseries1. Coming January 18th: Dr. Jo’s TD webinar on intermittent fasting.

Michele Redmond, MS, RDN, developed and taught a 12-part cooking series for kids at the American Heart Association’s Halle Heart Children’s Museum. Kids learned to taste ingredients and prepare foods with real chef knives! The next culinary adventure is running her fifth taste workshop/cooking demo for Le Cordon Bleu headquarters in Paris. Chef Michele teaches, speaks and writes on the topics of taste science, culinary nutrition, sustainability and creating fun, healthy food cultures. Visit www.

Thetasteworkshop.com.

Alissa Rumsey, MS, RDN, CDN, CSCS, founder of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition & Wellness, has launched a new service, www.

BlenderizedDietRD.com.

She offers assistance to people fed via feeding tubes, specializing in transitioning patients from commercial formulas to blenderized tube feeds using real food. Support is provided virtually or in-home in the New York City area. She has transitioned dozens of patients to a blenderized diet and has seen first hand the benefits from using real foods in feeding tubes.

Rebecca Scritchfield: Want a powerful way to help your clients improve body image and achieve health goals? In her new book, Body Kindness, Rebecca Scritchfield helps readers achieve better health with self-love and compassion.

Use this book to help your clients change their habits through values-driven goals and mindfulness. Filled with self-guided activities, client stories and beautiful infographics, your clients will learn how to lead a more meaningful life by focusing on well-being rather than their weight.

Amanda Sauceda, MS, RDN, CLT, helped write and publish her first article, “Results of the Academy’s Consumer Health Informatics Work Group’s 2015 Member App Technology Survey,” in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has also recently opened her own private practice in which she specializes in food sensitivities and health coaching. In addition to her private practice, she is a full-time lecturer at California State University, Long Beach teaching introductory nutrition.

Amanda Terillo is a Registered Dietitian who recently completed her master’s in sustainable food systems. For her final project she wrote a guidebook called Kitchen Confidence: Improve Your Health, Save Money and Waste Less, which aims to teach individuals how to create nutritious meals while reducing food waste. Currently she is working to get her guidebook donated to food banks and other non-profits to help improve the nutritional quality of life of those in need.

Lisa Eaton Wright, MS, RDN, LDN, was recently named the winner of the 2016 Award for Grassroots Excellence, the Academy’s top award for nutrition advocacy. Lisa has held numerous leadership roles in key areas of the dietetics profession, currently as policy & advocacy leader for the Women’s Health DPG; Illinois Academy pastpresident and the Academy’s Legislative and Public Policy Chair. Lisa also received the 2016 Who’s Who Among Benedictine University Alumni Rising Star Award.

Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE: The Academy has selected Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE, as the recipient of the 2016 Media Excellence Award. With more than 20 years of extensive media experience, Dobbins has been a spokesperson for healthcare, grocery and food industries as well as a former Academy spokesperson and state media rep for Illinois.

She has been praised for her media training workshops that empower and support other dietitians so they can gain more visibility, influence and success.

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DELEGATES CORNER

The Road to Reward Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND NE Delegate “Life is inherently risky.

There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” - Denis Waitley Ever since I had a brain tumor removed several years ago, I have considered myself a risk-taker. Until the surgery, I always played it safe and took for granted I would have time to take more risks in the future.

Having a tumor taking up residence in your brain changes one’s perspective.

Several days after the surgery, I had the opportunity to share a room with a woman who was the same age as me, except her diagnosis was terminal. Her advice was to take more risks because you never know how much time you have, and playing it safe is not living. I got discharged, spent months recovering and vowed to check some items off my risk list.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of risk-taking is “the act or fact of doing something that involves danger or risk in order to achieve a goal.” I always wanted to run a marathon, but the only time I ever ran would be if someone was chasing me with a sharp object. Instead, I opted for a bike tour. In the fall of 2016, I rode 130 miles in three days. I am not an avid cyclist nor do I have a desire to become one. I did it because I enjoy leisurely riding my bike and because - before this race - I had not ridden over 15

miles in any given time period on a bicycle.

It was an amazing experience for many reasons, but perhaps mostly because my idea of “possible” radically changed the more miles I completed.

Here are five risk-taking tips: 1. You don’t need to see the finish line.

2. You don’t need to believe you can finish at all. Just believe you can start!

3. Publicly announce your biggest goal. It makes you accountable to yourself and others.

4. Ask for help when needed. A risktaking, accountability partner is invaluable.

5. Have fun, it’s worth the risk!

The start of the bike tour and the preop brain surgery were similar in that I didn’t know what the outcome would be when the process began. I hoped for the best and prepared for the worst. As with any risk, you hope that it brings a good outcome. So, the next time a risk is presented to you, take the risky road and ride on!

Academy

SECOND CENTURY COLLABORATION Opportunity Areas Linda S. Eck Mills, MBA, RDN, LDN, FADA NE DPG Second Century Liaison The Academy is preparing for the Second Century of the profession. There will be a number of activities and opportunities for members to help shape the future of the profession. Since NE members tend to be on the forefront of the profession as movers and shakers, we have a real opportunity to influence what direction the association goes in the next century.

Six collaboration opportunity areas have been identified: nnFood and nutrition security nnEnvironment, behavior and choice

Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND, is a funny speaker and stand-up comedienne. She is not just mildly amusing—she is really funny. Lisa was bitten by the comedy-bug at a young age, entertaining her family at the dinner table with knock-knock jokes. Soon she discovered SNL and would memorize many bits and made her siblings perform them. Today, you can find Lisa performing improvisational, sketch and standup comedy at private events and comedy clubs.

nnPrevention and health care nnResearch and standards nnGlobal workforce capacity nnInvestment.

To learn more about each of these opportunity areas, go to the Members section of the NE website (www.nedpg.org) and click on Academy Second Century.

Challenge: Start to think NOW about how entrepreneurs can leverage these six areas so we can remain the movers and shakers for the profession in the Second Century.

Linda Eck Mills, MBA, RDN, LDN, FADA, is a career coach, international speaker and author in her business Dynamic Communication Services and a corporate dietitian in corrections. Outside the profession she chairs the restoration of a one-room schoolhouse, is a Level II archery instructor and rides a motorcycle with her husband.

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50:50 Jump out of an airplane?

Probably not.

Run for political office?

Maybe so.

Compete on “Dancing with the Stars”?

Yup!

Jacqueline B. Marcus, MS, RDN, LDN, CNS, FADA, FAND Treasurer

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Ben Franklin espoused a venturesome life and look what Ben accomplished, like Poor Richard’s Almanac, bifocals and the lightning rod. Bet Ben blew up a few along the way!

Let’s talk about risktaking from a risk-taker.

Parachuting requires thin air and taking the first step. Dancing involves exhibitionism and quick study.

Candidacy demands blind faith and high profile.

“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.” John F. Kennedy penned venturesome idioms like this one in Profiles in Courage. Still, Jack had his share of failures. Consider the Bay of Pigs invasion under his early presidential watch.

Thin air. First steps. Exhibitionism. Quick study. Blind faith. High profile.

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” T.S. Eliot spoke to the degree of risk-taking, like taking that final step off an airplane and how mind-expanding it could be. T.S. relinquished his U.S. citizenship for British. Must have been the chancy idealist in him.

Get the picture? Risks are scary, but exhilarating and often rewarding.There are no guarantees. In fact, to be a risk-taker you need to be prepared to lose for some prescribed, other random reasons. The goal for unwavering self-esteem is to find the balance. 50:50. That’s about my rate of return.

Others agree: “No pain, no gain.” Jane Fonda told us to “Feel the burn,” but what was Jane really saying? Perhaps it was to risk the limit and then some. Jane even revolutionized exercise videocassettes—risky for the time. Go, Jane, go!

“Statistically, 100 percent of the shots you don’t take don’t go in.” At the time of Wayne Gretzky’s retirement he held 61 NHL records: 40 regular-season, 15 playoffs and 6 All-Star. Not 100%, but who’s counting? “Let the puck do all the moving and you get yourself in the right place,” was Gretzky’s motivational mantra.

The fact is, great achievers are typically great risk-takers and not all their seemingly high risk-taking works. Maybe 50:50.

What if you’re no Fonda, Franklin, Kennedy, Eliot or Gretzky? How can you incorporate this 50:50 rule into your life?

Do 50% of low-to-moderate risk activities and do them very, very well. Figure on 25% of moderate-to-high risk activities and try your best. Then do the remaining 25% with an “I’ve got nothing to lose” attitude. You’ll feel good about yourself half the time, moderately successful another quarter, and maybe hit a few home runs the final fourth.

Not all or nothing. A percentage to achieve, gain, win and yes - lose.

As for me, I’m betting on my 50:50 risk-taking practices in 2017. I just might run for office, dance for dollars for my favorite charity and check out the local airport—one risky step at a time, of course.

Treasurer - Jacqueline B. Marcus, MS, RDN, LDN, CNS, FADA, FAND, president/owner of Jacqueline B. Marcus and Associates Food and Nutrition Communications, is an artist, cook, dancer, drummer, photographer and world traveler who drives an electric-blue Mini Cooper and designs recycled jewelry. Her latest culinary adventures have taken her from India to Panama and Morocco where she seeks out unusual ingredients, dines with locals and inspires her audiences and readership at www.TheFitFoodPro.com.

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Fear & RISK

Sara Haas, RDN, LDN Incoming Director Awards & Networking We all fear something.

For me, I fear failure the most and I have my whole life. Fear that I didn’t study enough for the test, fear that I wouldn’t make the team or fear that I would forget what I’m supposed to say during my presentation. But here’s one thing that’s helped me to deal with this fear - taking risks.

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Conquering My Fear with Risk Professionally Speaking: I love nutrition and I love food. But I didn’t love my job working in a hospital. I feared a life working at a job I didn’t like, so I took a risk and went to culinary school. How did that work out? Well, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because of that risk.

Was it hard? Of course, but well worth it.

Personally Speaking: I love my family, but it wasn’t easy to get here. Struggling to get pregnant involved years of pain, sadness and fear, which took their toll and left me feeling like a failure. Dealing with infertility was and is a heart-wrenching journey. I risked my career, placing my family goals first and putting my job on hold. And after years of trying, I was lucky enough to have my sweet daughter, which leads me to one of my biggest risks.

Professionally and Personally Speaking: Sharing my journey of infertility with the world is, by far, my biggest risk. By co-authoring a book with my friend and colleague, Elizabeth Shaw, I am exposing my most vulnerable self. Liz and I are taking a big risk by sharing our infertility stories, but we have high hopes, the biggest being that we can help others. Is it scary? Am I afraid?

Absolutely! I’m also happy and confident that our book will truly make a difference.

Taking risks is a part of life. Every day you risk something, which means every day you have an opportunity to conquer fear. Risk-taking is a valuable skill that can lead to amazing personal and professional growth.

Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, owner of www.sarahaasrdn. com. Besides her love of whipping up nourishing food in the kitchen, Sara also loves all things chocolate and baking. In her free time she enjoys testing new recipes for everything from cakes to profiteroles. So, it either smells really good in her house or not-so-much, thanks to all that experimenting.

QUESTIONS

to Ask Before Risk-Taking

Susan Mitchell, PhD, RDN, LDN Technology & Social Media Chair

Are you ready for a change? With change comes the potential for risk-taking, some of which will pay off, while some won’t. Yet, it is a driver of the entrepreneurial spirit. Ask yourself these three questions before you consider risktaking.

1. What is your comfort level for risk? If the idea of taking a risk makes you feel fearful, risk-taking and entrepreneurship may not be for you. Being an entrepreneur requires the ability to change what isn’t working, update to meet new trends and take leaps of faith to step out in new directions when others would prefer not to rock the boat. Success frequently happens because you see an opportunity that requires you to stretch

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How can that be? Wouldn’t taking risks just elicit more fear? For me, it has had the opposite effect; the more risks I have taken, the more confident I feel. Does it always work? No, but I’m proud of myself afterward for taking the leap of faith.

outside your comfort zone, take a risk and go for it. Be sure you’re mentally ready to do this.

2. Will they come? If you build it, they will come is more than a saying. Do your homework first and determine if the risk you plan to take has a good chance of paying off. Ask questions, talk to others who’ve been successful in the field, hold focus groups, and listen to the comments.

The more insight you have before you take a risk, the greater your chance for success. Determine a strategic plan of action and estimate how long it will take you to see change produce the outcome and income you expect.

3. Do you have a financial plan/backup in place? Taking risk often means an increase in expenses and likely a reduction in income for a period of time.

After developing your strategic plan, determine that estimated period of time before the risk should become financially viable. Do you need to cut back on other work to help this new venture take off?

How will a cutback affect income and the expected expenses to come? A financial cushion should be in place to carry you through the anticipated amount of time before the income stream is regular. A good strategy is to plan for the financial cushion to last at least six months longer than anticipated due to unforeseen issues such as changes in current contracts, consumer interest, unexpected economic shifts and even health.

Risk-taking is part of owning and running a successful business. With time it becomes second nature. Taking time to analyze risk is strategically smart and increases your odds for success.

Technology & Social Media Specialty Group Chair Susan Mitchell, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND, is producer and host of the podcast Breaking Down Nutrition: Your Digest for What Works, What Doesn’t available in both medical professional and consumer versions. She’s never met a chocolate she doesn’t like, loves fashion and spends down-time at the beach.

PURSUE

Possibilities Abigail Joy Dougherty, RDN, LDN Director-Elect of Member Services “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, What if you fly?” - Eric Hanson If you were to ask me if I’m particularly fond of taking risks or making big decisions, you would hear an emphatic “no.” I struggle with making decisions at restaurants and what to make for dinner during the week. One thing I’ve learned though is that the bigger, scarier decisions have found me.

For instance, 11 years ago, my then boyfriend of seven months (now hubs) asked me to move across the country with him. A risk!

A friend and business owner asked if I wanted to try my hand at the business world, reaching out to potential clients and doing a little sales. I am pretty much the worst sales person of all time, so not the best risk.

I started my own business having only been out of school for eight months. I signed on with a baseball team when I hadn’t ever worked with baseball players. I feel like I could go on all day and I’m sure you could too.

What if you looked at risk as growth opportunities, thus preventing fear from taking over? Let’s change the conversation from “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” to “What are the best things that

can come of this?” Here are three steps I’ve learned the hard way to help you do just that: 1. Look at the risk as an opportunity, and pursue the positive possibilities. Think of the new connections, the people you’ll meet, the new skills you’ll learn, and how much this new potential opportunity will enable you to grow as a person, a professional and a practitioner.

2. Look at everything. This is where you get into the dirt. Write out an extensive pros-and-cons list and think about both the worst and the best things that can happen.

3. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. This is one of my favorite verses and reminders that once you make a decision, be content and go all in. We can waste so much brain energy on going back and forth. Whatever you decide, go for it!

You can decide to shrink back and say “no” to a potentially life-changing risk or say “yes” to the opportunity of a lifetime. Why not instead look at each of these risks as amazing opportunities?

Abigail Joy Dougherty is a registered dietitian based in Tampa, Florida, and the founder of The Soul of Health Nutrition where she focuses on bringing joy into the world of food and nutrition through mixing sciencebased information with real-life experience. Abigail loves her husband and peanut butter, thrives on new adventures, and dreams of becoming a news anchor when she grows up.

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Where There is Passion, There is Only Challenge (Not Risk)

Carrie Zisman, MS, RDN Corporate Wellness Specialty Group Chair The year 2016 has been one of the worst and best years of my life both professionally and personally. I have always dreamed big and been very proud of all that I’ve accomplished. Along this path, I’ve learned that “everything in life has some risk, and what you actually have to learn to do is navigate it” (Reid Hoffman). Though the list of turning lemons into lemonade is long, I will focus on more recent experiences.

Risk #1: Career Change In 2011, almost 15 years into my career, I made a risky switch from social marketing and health communications to employee wellness for a large defense contractor. Just like that. Well, not just like that. There is not much of a map or cheat sheet for dietitians in wellness. However, I knew I had the skills to succeed as a registered dietitian (and even more so, as a nutrition entrepreneur).

Lessons Learned: Self-motivation and vision can pay off. Broaden your skillsets. Believe in yourself.

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Risk #2: Reduction in Force In February 2016, after an amazing ride of almost five years, the corporation went through yet another business “optimization” and I was downsized as part of a large “reduction in force.” Though I was angry, I knew that there’s an inherent risk when you take an overhead position in a large company in a carefully watched industry. And, there is an even greater risk when your department director is not a good leader.

Lessons Learned: It’s business; it’s not personal. Be aware. Build resilience. Network, network, network. This experience also fueled my fire to move forward onto the next bigger and better thing.

Risk #3: When one door closes, another opens.

It took several months, applying to 60 jobs (and even a three-month interim position somewhere else), but I’m ending the year on a high. I managed to land a newly created position, within a company I hugely admire, doing what I love to do best. It is a contract position on the other side of the country, but “if the risks are fully aligned with your passion and mission, then it’s a risk worth considering” (Peter Diamandis).

Lessons Learned: Be Open-Minded. Be Creative. Be Risky. Dare to Follow Your Dreams.

On a more personal note, this year I risked being a (perhaps change to “I risked my most important role: Mom”) mom. Not a new mom - my kids are 9 and 5 - but a more present mom. During this year of career craziness, my younger, who had behavioral issues the past two years, was diagnosed with ADHD and high-functioning autism. We’ve spent countless hours getting tested, going to therapy, medication management, IEP meetings and just playing. I’ve also enjoyed bonding with my pre-’tween who was having a hard time.

Lessons Learned: Life is precious. Children are a gift. Early intervention is critical.

Teachers are amazing. I’m a pretty good mom, too.

Carrie Zisman, MS, RDN, is the NEDPG Corporate Wellness Specialty Chair. She has over 20 years of experience working in social marketing, health communications, and wellness. She is currently working as the Health Engagement Specialist at Fitbit.

Magic 8-Ball Says...

Krista Ulatowski, MPH, RDN Director PR & Marketing If you’re a secondcareer dietitian like myself, you took a big gamble in going back to school to become an RDN. You may have asked yourself: How am I going to pay for things (like peanut butter!) when I don’t have a paycheck and am in school full time? Will there be a job for me when I graduate? Will I make as much money as I’m making now? How do I know I’m making the right career move? And … Am I crazy?

back at those “I did it!” milestones can help push us forward when we face another big decision.

Like I am now.

If you’re finding yourself in a similar careermaking situation and are struggling with making a leap, read on! We’re here to nudge each other on after all, right?

Magic 8-Ball Says, “Signs Point to Yes”

It says, “Outlook good!”

In addition to owning and operating KUcumber Nutrition Communications, I work a few different gigs in order to, well, have a benefits package. And to have a “stable job” just in case. I’ve taken little leaps here and there, like decreasing the number of hours that I work at the “big gig” in order to continue to grow my own business. But continuing to juggle both is taking its toll.

I haven’t regretted my decision to take that risk for a second. We’ve all taken a risk, whether small or large. Sometimes looking

Have you been in this same predicament?

It’s a big leap, isn’t it? Transitioning from working for someone else to working solely

My Magic 8-Ball says, “Reply hazy, try again.”

Just kidding.

ABC 's of Risk Taking: How to Turn Fear

The

into Motivation Alicia Galvin Smith, MEd, RDN, CLT Mentor Program Coordinator In my role as Mentor Coordinator, I find some common questions our mentees ask our mentor volunteers are: “How did you decide to take the plunge?” “How did you let go of stability?” “How did you take that first step?”

Making that decision to take a risk - whether it be to start your own business, make a change in your career or try a new business venture - can be scary, exhilarating, liberating and stressful all at the same time!

But how do you change the emotion behind the risk? The ABC model, often implemented in Cognitive Behavioral Counseling, can be a great trick to use. This model stands for Activating Event, Beliefs and Consequences. nnActivating Event is the event or interpretation of the event. nnBeliefs are the rational or irrational evaluations of the event. This is what influences and can change the Consequence. nnConsequences are the emotions, actions or behaviors.

for yourself. And sometimes our reasons for justifying why we’re staying with the “big gig” aren’t good reasons at all. They’re excuses.

Gasp.

Are we ready to make the leap as the entrepreneurs we are meant to be and work solely for ourselves? I don’t need the Magic 8-Ball for this one!

Krista Ulatowski, MPH, RDN, is the owner of KUcumber Nutrition Communications. Krista decided to become a second-career “marketing dietitian” while on a Seattle food and brewery tour with her mom. And yes, her mom may have suggested the career path idea. Thanks, Mom! Krista is fascinated by every entrepreneur’s story – and loves connecting over a bite or brew to learn more!

Here’s an example: A: T he opportunity to lease office space with another medical practitioner and open your own practice.

B: “ I can’t make it on my own” or “I don’t have what it takes” or “what if I try and I fail?”

C: Will not take the opportunity.

However, if the Belief changes, then the Consequence changes: A: T he opportunity to lease office space with another medical practitioner and open your own practice.

B: “This is a great opportunity for me to grow.”

“I am ready for this,” “If I don’t take it, I will always wonder what if.”

C: Will take the opportunity.

Sometimes we may not be aware of the Belief or we may come up with excuses to maintain that Belief to be true and convince ourselves that the Consequence cannot be changed. But it can.

And that is when risk-taking turns from scary, to exhilarating, to motivating.

Alicia Galvin Smith, MEd, RDN, CLT. Ask anyone about Alicia’s passions and he/she would say,“Nutrition and Running.” An avid runner, in her first marathon ever, Alicia qualified to run in the Boston Marathon, an experience of a lifetime.

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Is It WRITER’S BLOCK or RISK AVERSION? Julie Beyer, MA, RDN Authors & Writers Specialty Chair When it comes to writing, doing nothing often means you are doing something. The truth is many of us who write for a living need time to think before we compose an article, book or blog post. We need time to step away from our keyboards to read other authors, develop recipes, research questions our audiences are asking and formulate our concepts. This “down time” is very important, resulting in more personal pieces of writing which connects authors better to their audiences.

But what happens if an author gets stuck in this “thinking and tinkering” process and the writing process stalls? Rather than just crank out a list of things to help you muscle through writer’s block, I want you to consider other things I have heard from writers as I have coached them, many having to do with risk aversion:

There are already many books on my topic; why should I write another one?

Think about readers’ buying habits. Generally, if someone is interested in a concept, he/she will buy several books on the topic. Second, no one writes just like you even if the books are written by other RDNs. Your book will tell your story, explain things your way and use your face on the cover. Find a way to brand your book as a unique take on the topic and get started!

What if I miss important information or the book isn’t perfect?

Think about the books you have read recently. No book is perfect and no book covers every single element of a topic. One of the best pieces of advice I got from other dietitians was to just get the information out there. PLAN on editing and adding things in subsequent editions. (Making changes is also a huge benefit of self-publishing!)

What if I put all this work into a book and no one buys it?

Every author needs a marketing plan. Taking time to deliberately identify your audience and engage with them before, during and after the process nurtures those relationships and can help prime people for sales. Make sure your book addresses the needs and frequently encountered problems of your audience. If you do this, trust me, you will sell books.

Is risk aversion keeping YOU from writing your first book (or article or blog post)?

Let’s talk about it on the Authors’ and Writers’ email list group. We want to encourage you to write that book!

Authors & Writers Specialty Group Chair - Julie Beyer, MA, RDN, is the author of four books including You CAN Write a Book: The No-Nonsense Guide to Self-Publishing. In addition to coaching dietitians on communication strategies, Julie is always happy to share her expertise about all things Disney. She has visited Disney World a couple times a year for the past 40 years, and now enjoys the “magic” with her four adorable granddaughters―two sets of twins!

TRICKS for Those Who Are Risk-Averse Joanne Larsen, MS, RDN, LD Website Coordinator Until I became a single parent, I was risk averse.

Yep I admit it. However, as a single parent, I realized I had to take risks since I was the primary source of income and I needed more.

Many of you may be in my same situation.

Risk-taking can be scary, but you don’t have to trailblaze your career solo. Dietitian entrepreneurs, who have gone before you and stand beside you, generously share their knowledge via the electronic mailing lists (EMLs) and the NE website Toolkit. Have you used these? They are FREE with NE membership. This is like the FREE coupons your grocery store sends you, which means more money in your pocket.

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Ironically only half of NE members belong to an EML. Why? Are you afraid of getting deluged with email? Then sign up for the digest version. Or create separate folders with email filters so that this rich mine of knowledge is stored for when you need it.

On my phone or computer, I read the subject of NE EML emails to see if it is something I need right now. If not, emails are stored for when I may need the knowledge later. Yep, I have NE EML email back to 2001. My trick is using Thunderbird to download emails from seven email accounts to my local computer.

The advantage is email folders are searchable for keywords and I don’t have to worry about running over the file storage for any online email accounts necessitating delete, delete, delete. I can also view the last week of email on my phone.

Try these two small steps to reducing your risk when starting or growing your business: Join the EML, and check out the Toolkit.

If you don’t belong to an NE EML, subscribe today on the Nutrition Entrepreneur DPG website: www.Nedpg.org. Log in first. Hover over Members tab. Click on Electronic Mailing Lists (EML).

NE’s Toolkit provides a wealth of knowledge on how to set up your business or private practice. Articles are organized into subject or practice areas. Check out the Toolkit today at www.nedpg.org under Members > Toolkit.

Joanne Larsen, MS, RDN, LD, techie entrepreneur, has worked at four technology companies. As owner of Nutritional Data Services, a consulting B2B company, she develops websites, software and phone apps; markets health products; and creates web content. She loves food. Gardening to cooking is one way of sharing her love with friends and family.

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KEYS TO HELP YOU GET COMFORTABLE

in Your Discomfort Zone … And Why It Matters

Lesli Bitel, MBA, RDN, LDN Coaches Specialty Chair

Fear. Stress.

Uncertainty. Ugh! Most of us would prefer to avoid anxiety-provoking situations, and for good reason. It can feel good to live in the land of comfort, with a regular routine, sense of predictability and familiarity. So what’s the downside?

Routine is not the road to self improvement.

In fact, constant hovering within one’s comfort zone can make us lax, restless and uninspired. It’s a killer for athletic performance before a big game or for public speakers before a big presentation. But here’s an important caveat: while excessive stress and anxiety is clearly bad news, finding the

sweet spot within your discomfort zone can be a real game-changer. Anxiety kept in check has been shown to enhance performance, and may even increase problem-solving capability, life fulfillment and satisfaction.

So how do you train your brain to nab opportunities for discomfort - when it doesn’t feel particularly good in the moment? Here are my four keys to help you to navigate your “optimal anxiety terrain” - without going overboard: 1. Consciously acknowledge the benefit.

Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

If you want to ramp up your life or career, it’s important to remind yourself that pushing the envelope can lead to amazing things.

2. Take daily baby steps. Make a concerted effort to make small changes to your routine each day. Mix up your routines. If you’re especially risk-averse, try starting with a new workout or a new route to work. Work up to more challenging situations that will stretch your “perceived” limitations.

3. Change up your decision-making style. If you tend to overthink things, experiment with making quick decisions.

If you’re a shoot-from-the-hip-type decision-maker, force yourself to slow down by weighing out your options.

4. Be kind to yourself. Especially when things don’t turn out as planned. Extract the learning and continue to move forward.

With practice, your discomfort zone is sure to become your new normal.

Coaches Specialty Group Chair - Lesli Bitel, MBA, RDN, LDN, is the happy owner of Lesli Bitel Coaching (www.

LesliBitel.com). As a business success coach and mentor to integrative nutrition professionals, Lesli teaches her clients to overcome the all-too-common sense of overwhelm and confusion that’s associated with the business side of running a successful practice. When she’s not coaching her rockstar RDN clients, you will find Lesli traveling with her husband and two teenage kids, goofing around with their two-year-old labradoodle Rocky or reading cooking blogs.

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Risks & REWARDS:

Success Stories from Your Speakers & Media Colleagues Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE Speakers & Media Specialty Chair When was the last time you took a risk? Was it big? Small? Scary?

Calculated? Did it pay off? If it has been a while since you took a risk and reaped the rewards, maybe a few success stories will inspire you to take another chance.

Cara Harbstreet, MS, RDN, LD: “I attended a farm tour and realized there is a demand for more information on topics like biotechnology and agriculture. So I pitched an article to the online magazine for a state agriculture group. These topics can sometimes be controversial, and as a young, inexperienced entrepreneur I wanted to “play nice” and not rock the boat. However, I realized that my brand comes down to who I am and what I believe; I’m not doing myself any favors by

Chere Bork, MS, RDN Positivity Ambassador “My career is great, but I’d like to be compensated more.

I have the same education as a pharmacist and his salary is double mine. I’ve been here ten years and this is bothering me more and more.” Sound familiar?

Another client that is 85% happy! Isn’t life too short to be at 85%? Maybe it is time to make another decision and decide that you will be compensated for what you are worth. But,

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being inauthentic or stifling my voice. The article was well received and led to even more opportunities which not only boosted my confidence, but also financially supported me in developing new skills. My fear of negative comments or lost clientele was unfounded and instead, I found a community more supportive of dietitians than I could ever have imagined!”

Kate Geagan, MS, RDN: “I made the decision to reinvest at least 10% of my gross revenue each year back into my business. Although my business has grown, I found I was “locked” into a mental number that seemed like the right amount to spend for the results I wanted (after all, I’d always done it that way….and spending more felt frivolous).

However, that way of thinking was holding me back from taking my results to the next level and so I’ve had to get comfortable with pushing that boundary.”

“Dr. Jo” Lichten, PhD, RDN:

times. Each time I do it’s a huge risk because I know that many types of organizations will no longer be able to afford my fee, so it’s clear that I’ll lose business. But, I gamble that I’ll also gain business by attracting groups that not only can afford my new fee, but wouldn’t have even considered hiring me if I charged less. Consider this: Are you willing to gamble your hair on one of those places that only charges $10 for a haircut? I’m sure some stylists are good, but the great ones probably work elsewhere. If you price yourself too low, many people/businesses simply won’t even consider hiring you.”

Speakers & Media Specialty Group Chair - Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE, relishes time with her family, even while working on podcasts and blogs with her 16-year-old daughter. Melissa’s eight-year-old son says she is “fun, happy and surprisingly good at chess.” Her computer-geek husband is finally on board with all of her “twittering” because U.S. News and World Report recently named her as one of 10 Dietitians You Should Follow on Social Media.

“I’ve been speaking professionally for more than 20 years and have raised my fee many

maybe you are afraid of opening your mouth and taking a risk.

a raise three times for three different jobs. I decided to take a risk. Ask for a raise.

I love Anthony Robbins who reminds us, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”

Purpose is the reason for your journey. Passion is the fire that lights your way. We all need purpose to feed our passion. But if you aren’t feeling happy, you aren’t feeling happy. And nothing will change until you decide to change it. So trust your gut – your intuition - and know that the Universe has your best interests at heart, even when you are sure it doesn’t. Ask and it is given. You have one life to live; just imagine it was one you truly loved! Better get busy! Decide today!

Think back to the past few days, weeks, months or years and all the threads leading back from your decisions that created your life today. Nothing you have experienced could have happened without those decisions. There are big decisions and baby decisions. I wanted to be a doctor but my mom and Grandma Lily thought it was too hard for a girl – so, I became an RDN. Little did I know being an RDN and constantly changing up what I do as an RDN feeds my soul. We moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, from the “safety” of a small town in Wisconsin.

Little did I know that the Minneapolis area offers me more that is aligned with my values than the small town in Wisconsin. This week I looked at my resume and I realized I asked for

Chere is the happy owner of www.Cherebork.com and is a Law of Attraction Facilitator, giving RDNs a big boost of confidence to live the lives they have always wanted. She enjoys coaching smart, savvy RDNs to greatness. Chere has a quirky habit of naming her possessions – her kayak is Bubba and her car is Ruby. She adores caramelized bacon and sea salt and vinegar potato chips (but perhaps not together). Her goal before she is 72 years old is to give a talk at every state Academy conference and to travel to Tuscany.

TAKING THE LEAP to Grow your Business Barbara Spalding, MA, MS, RDN Second Career Dietitian Specialty Group Chair When I had my first business, I learned a lot about taking risk. I was in my late 20s when I started it and had no previous experience as an entrepreneur, not a lot of cash and only a vague idea of what it would take to build a business. I had passion, however, and an unshakeable desire to become an entrepreneur.

As my business grew, I quickly discovered that life as an entrepreneur is a series of risks. You study the problem, crunch all the numbers and then you have to leap. I used to tell myself, after you’ve done all the preparation, you close your eyes and leap off the ledge to get to the next stage of business. If you never leap, your business will not grow, and while some of the risks worked out well, others didn’t. I learned a lot along the way and sometimes

the best teacher is something that doesn’t quite work out like you planned.

Eventually, I hired my first employee. I was terrified at the thought that someone else was now dependent on me for a weekly salary and it was my job to generate enough revenue to make payroll each week. Another leap off the ledge.

Then, I hired another employee, more payroll, larger overhead. I’d tell myself, Just close your eyes and leap. If you do everything yourself all the time, it is hard to grow a company since you can only work a certain number of hours a week. This is an absolute law of nature. No matter how hard you try to improve your efficiency, you eventually max out and need to take a leap.

After a while I got used to the many leaps it took to grow a business. I took out a business loan, moved to nicer offices, hired some more employees. Leap, leap, leap, leap.

I eventually sold that business and went to work for the new company. Another leap.

Would I like working for someone else? I had been self-employed for 12 years.

After a few years, I returned to school to become a Second Career Dietitian. One more leap. This time into an undergraduate program filled with students younger than my own children. I eventually emerged and am now starting a new business as an RDN entrepreneur. One more leap and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

If I’ve learned anything over this journey, it’s that you need to take many leaps in order to succeed. You may be afraid to take risk, but without going for it, you’ll find it difficult to achieve your goals. Look at your data, make your plans, then close your eyes and take the leap!

Barbara Spalding is a Second Career Dietitian with over 20 years of experience as a sales and marketing professional. After selling her first business, she eventually returned to school to follow her passion for food and nutrition, and became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing and other outdoor activities, likes to travel whenever possible, and loves cooking for family and friends.

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CALCULATED RISK TAKING FOR SUCCESS: Ten Examples from My Private Practice Experience

Rebecca Bitzer, MS, RDN, LD, CEDRD Private Practice Chair Early in my career I was very risk-adverse, choosing a traditional job as a clinical dietitian in a large medical center. I never thought twice about my career future. I was happy in a job that I believed was completely stable.

Quickly, I found out that my job was not stable because the food service company paying my salary lost its contract with the hospital and the hospital wanted to use dietitians employed by its new food service company. I had to beg for a job with the new company, which made an exception and hired me. What I thought was a risk-free situation was not. I decided it was time to find a stable, risk-free job. I decided that a job with the government was 100% stable, but I soon realized it was not a good fit for me. In 1987, I decided it was time to take

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a risk and start a private practice. I made a calculated risk by cutting down my hours at my government job as I increased my hours in private practice. This allowed me to continue to receive a steady paycheck during the transition to full-time private practice.

5. Purchased an office suite with three counseling rooms

Once I got a taste of the adrenaline rush of being in private practice, I knew it was the place for me. Over the years I made a series of calculated risks that have helped me create the private practice of my dreams. Here is the outline of the calculated risks I took over the past 29 years:

8. Co-authored a private practice workbook: Welcome to the REBELultion: Seven steps to creating the nutrition counseling practice of your dreams

1. Started a private practice

Risk-tasking involves a lot of practice, so I follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do one thing every day that scares you.�

2. Promoted myself to many Maryland physicians to provide nutrition counseling to their medical offices 3. Stopped driving around to seven different offices each week, and decided to consolidate my practice in one office 4. Expanded my practice and hired Registered Dietitians to counsel clients

6. Added two more office locations 7. Designed an intensive empowered eating program for clients struggling with eating disorders

9. Spoke at SCAN and IAEDP conferences 10. Added the eighth RDN to my team

Rebecca Bitzer, MS, RDN, LD, CEDRD, is the co-author of Taste the Sweet Rebellion: Rebel Against Dieting workbook/cookbook. Rebecca loves to try new things. If she has not done it, she is pretty open to jump in if given the opportunity.

Taking Risks for theMemory of It

Megan Ware, RDN Director Sponsorship

As this will be the last year I can call myself a “twentysomething,” I’ve caught myself doing a lot of reflecting throughout the year. What have I accomplished in my first 30 years? What do I want the next 30 years to look like? What are the moments that stand out and how do I make sure I have more of them?

What I’ve come to realize is that the standout memories are the result of high-risk situations.

Declining my first full-time job offer turned into a four-month backpacking trip around

Australia. Signing up for match.com turned into a five-year relationship (we’re still together).

Quitting my stable job and moving across the country for my match.com guy turned me into a successful business owner. Signing a lease to rent an office instead of working from home almost doubled my income in one year.

You know what doesn’t stand out? The day-to-day routine when I did have that stable job. The nights I wished I was out meeting new people before I gave in to online dating. The times I chose to stay home instead of meeting friends for happy-hour random Thursday. When I turned down that cheesecake because it had too many calories.

I racked my brain to remember a time when I took a risk and it didn’t turn into a positive or at least a fond memory. I couldn’t. Maybe those times have happened, but obviously they didn’t turn out so badly if I can’t even remember them. If I want to have as many memorable moments as I’ve had in my first 30 years, it looks like I’ll need to take a lot of risks along the way.

So instead of saying “the greater the risk, the greater the reward,” maybe it should be “the greater the risk, the greater the memory.”

Megan Ware, RDN, is the owner of Nutrition Awareness, a private practice in Orlando, Florida, where she works as a personal nutrition consultant to help her clients optimize their lives with food. She is currently obsessed with the idea of becoming a Joel Salatin-like farmer and not only teaching her clients about the best sources of nutrition, but producing it as well. #farmby40

Risk or Adventure?

Maria McConville, MS, RDN, CPT, CWC Secretary I have always equated risk with bravery. In order to take a risk, one must have a certain amount of bravado. In all honesty, I don’t consider myself a brave person. According to several strength attribute assessments I’ve taken, bravery is one of my least strengths.

Maybe I’m not a big risk-taker but I do love a good adventure. Therefore, in my life, risk equals adventure.

As I reflect on my personal and professional successes, I realize that risk and adventure shaped the trajectory of certain decisions and their ensuing successes.The three significant risky decisions that shaped my life were: completing my dietetic internship and early career in the Army; going back to school for a master’s degree at the age of 45; and starting my own business.

My husband, a mentor to many, has always said, “High risk needs to equal high payoff.”

In other words, “If I take this risk, what is the ultimate price? Do the potential benefits outweigh the potential problems?” These questions are definitely worth considering before taking any risk.

There are many risks associated with starting and maintaining a dietetics business, but the biggest risk may be in NOT starting that business.

Bonnie Ware, a palliative nurse, conducted a study with her terminally ill patients. Bonnie asked the patients about their lives and their deepest regrets. The top five regrets that her patients expressed: 1. I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

Most people regretted the things they didn’t do more than the things they did do. And many didn’t have the courage to pursue living their lives authentically. Sometimes not taking the risk and never knowing the outcome is more disappointing than taking the risk and failing; at least we can learn from failure.

A few years ago, I listened to a lecture given by the late Dr. Wayne Dyer, philosopher and motivational speaker. His message was about living life authentically and taking risk to go after the things you truly desire. He urged, “Don’t die with your music still in you.”

So when others ask me why I started my business, wrote and self-published a book or continue to refine my brand, I answer, “I don’t want to risk dying with my music still in me.”

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

Maria McConville, MS, RDN, CPT, CWC, is owner of Balanced Body Nourishment, LLC. In addition to guiding clients to find better health, Maria is passionate about helping them change their thought processes to become victors over life’s circumstances and manage stress. She finds her inspiration and enlightenment at her seaside home and you can find her each evening walking on the beach collecting sunsets.

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Product REVIEWS Nourish Your Namaste: How Nutrition and Yoga Can Support Digestion, Immunity, Energy & Relation.

The Mom’s Guide to a Nourishing Garden

Author:

Publisher: self-published, available on Amazon

Kara Lydon, RDN, LDN, RYT

Date: 2016 Price: $14.99 Review: Nourish Your Namaste is your goto resource to improve digestion, energy, immunity and relaxation in a holistic way.

The eBook details easy-to-follow yoga poses coupled with delicious and nutritionally well-balanced recipes that support healing and feeling better. As a registered dietitian and registered yoga teacher, Kara’s expertise and passion for both subjects means you’re in good hands. Sharing her unique story of how food and yoga helped her achieve better health allows you to easily connect with her.

Kara’s program goes beyond the eBook. She offers three packages where additional useful information is provided including a grocery shopping list, 21-day meal plan, additional mouth-watering recipes and guided relaxation videos. Throughout her program, she incorporates evidence-based information which lets you know it’s the most current recommendation. I invite you or your clients to join Kara in Nourish Your Namaste to help you achieve a “holistically happy life.”

Reviewer: Karla Moreno-Bryce, MDA, RDN Title: Blogger

Registered Dietitian and Food

Affiliation: Nutritious Vida Address: N/A Phone: N/A

Author:

Jen Haugen, RDN

Date:

2016

Price: $19.99 Review: As Jen Haugen skillfully illustrates in her book, The Mom’s Guide to a Nourishing Garden, you reap what you sow. Much more than a gardening book, it is a metaphor for living a purposeful life.

With her own life off-balance, Haugen shares how she self-corrected to live the meaningful life she wanted. To help readers do this, she provides questions at the end of each chapter to guide them in identifying their values and reflecting on what nourishes their souls.

Haugen holds your hand through the gardening process from site selection to seed selection and then into the kitchen to cook the bounty. Haugen also includes recipes, creative garden themes, plus an A-Z guide on what to grow, when to plant and harvest and how to serve it.

What we sow, we grow. As Haugen writes, “The garden is a space to grow fruits and vegetables, and to grow good eaters, but more it’s a space to grow more connected as a family.” With this book, you’ll be able to plant those seeds for yourself.

Reviewer: Judy Barbe, MS, RDN Title:

Food & Nutrition Consultant

Affiliation: LiveBest, LiveBest.info Address:

1064 Mile Hi Dr, Casper, WY 82604

Phone: 307-259-5745

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Fresh Italian Cooking for the New Generation: 100 Full-Flavored Vegetarian Dishes That Prove You Can Stay Slim While Eating Pasta and Bread Author:

Alexandra Caspero Lenz, RDN

Date:

July 2016

Publisher: Page Street Publishing Price:

$21.99

Review: Off the bat, this Italian cookbook delivers more than just flavorful, healthy and pasta-loving dishes. It is also a cookbook that delivers on stories about how the recipe came to be, the best way to present the dish and quick tips on preparation. These are the reasons why this cookbook will be especially meaningful to people who appreciate that cooking is more than just assembling ingredients. On top of all this, the entire cookbook is plant-based and each dish is vegetarian with some of the recipes including vegan option suggestions. No Italian cookbook would be complete without fresh pasta recipes and the book includes the classics as well as modern takes like sweet potato gnocchi. Alexandra beautifully presents how you can maximize nutrient density with Italian cooking by using simple ingredients and goes to show that you can still enjoy your pasta.

Reviewer: Amanda Sauceda, MS, RDN, CLT Title:

Registered Dietitian

Phone:

(562) 281-5125

GUEST ARTICLE

Don’t Be Afraid …To Lindsey Gemme, NDTR, CLE Taking a risk in business is like falling in love.

Sure, you’ve had your heart broken a few times in the past. It’s always a gamble to put yourself back out there again. We feel vulnerable because we don’t know what could happen. It could end horribly. But it also might be the love of your life.

fall in love

scenarios. Next time you feel resistance to a project, opportunity or idea due to fear, try this: 1. Think about what you’re afraid will happen and write that scenario down.

If you have multiple fears, write them all down. And then write what you might have to do to recover from them.

Those odds aren’t terrible. Isn’t your one true love worth the risk?

2. Then ask yourself for each scenario: And then what would happen? What would you have to do? Write it down below. And then what? Write that down below.

Most of the time, saying something is “risky” is just an emotional kickback we experience due to fear. Sometimes it’s the fear of failure and how it will affect us. Sometimes it’s the fear of success.

3. Keep going until you’ve exhausted all possibilities in that chain reaction. Then rate your belief and the actual possibility of this really occurring on a 1-100 scale.

So how do we take the sting out of fear? We face it head on.

What you have is, in black and white, the worst possible case, so that you can plan and prepare - emotionally, physically and financially. And I’ll bet the worst possible

Fear is driven by our internal movie screen playing out any number of worst-case

outcome you’ve been imagining … isn’t as scary or insurmountable now. Is it?

But just remember that no matter what risk you take in business, it’s just like being in any relationship: Even if it doesn’t pan out like you planned, you are still the amazing person you were before you started. You’re still the creative, enterprising, unique individual with a message to give to the world. One stumble does not define you, but it does make you experienced. So, give yourself permission to learn and pick yourself up and try, try again.

Next time, you might just fall in love.

Lindsey Gemme, NDTR, CLE, is a health writer/recovering journalist, a weight management and lifestyle coach specializing in prenatal nutrition and lactation education. She is also a self-confidence mentor coach, facilitating empowerment and self-esteem workshops for women. When not helping save the world one life at a time, she loves to cook, travel, take photos, do yoga in natural settings, write stories and take local community theatre stages by storm.

BY

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Ventures

www.nedpg.org

Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN, RYT 7515 Teasdale Ave St. Louis, MO 63130

Mini Meetings Maria McConville, NEDPG Secretary, organized an amazing event in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Several dietitians gathered for an NE mini-meeting on September 16 at Beuchert’s Saloon, a Capitol Hill D.C. restaurant, specializing in fresh, local flavors. The chef created and constructed a four-course tasting menu just for us. With each course, Chef Drew explained where the ingredients came from,

how he selected the perfectly matched ingredients and why he is passionately interested in farm-to-table, seasonal menu items and transparent kitchen practices.

It was an enlightening and informative experience for all. Best of all, new acquaintances were made.