Powerful Women Today Magazine Winter Issue b

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What would the ideal women’s magazine look like?

Let me start by saying I LOVE books and magazines. When I was little, I was fascinated by National Geographic . I used to think that one day when I grew up, I would become a National Geographic correspondent and travel worldwide, bringing amazing adventures and stories to everyone. Little did I know then that I would grow up to be a 100% indoor-urban type of lady.

My choice and taste in magazines grew as I did – pre-teen mags with the latest version of Menudo , Vogue , Veranda , Time , The Economist – with the latter, my dream was that one day, I would be qualified enough to apply for one of the jobs listed in The Economist . Happy to report that the being qualified part did come true! And today I am a proud entrepreneur and founder of Powerful Women Today.

Back to Magazines. Because we are located in Toronto, Canada, most of our media, including magazines, come from our southern USA cousins along with some brilliant decorating ones from the UK. But I learned very quickly about decorating magazines was to only look at Canadian publications decorating magazines. BECAUSE because ALL of the beautiful products and companies listed in the back directory from the magazine’s contents would be something I could actually get or even drive to. No point in falling in love with something you cannot get. At least, practically.

To say decorating is a passion for me would be an understatement. Decorating is about gracious living and surrounding yourself with a manifestation of your best self and best life.

That is the passion behind Powerful Women Today’s Magazine. All the content contributors are Mentor Experts within Powerful Women Today. Every day, they are Empowered Women empowering women through their respective modalities. They are not celebrities, nor are they recommending solutions that are out of reach for most women.

Powerful Women Today is a boutique accelerator of women’s success. Be sure to check out our full-service ecosystem on the next page. Our Mentor Experts are

a collective of elite professionals who, in addition to running successful businesses of their own, choose to come together and form the ultimate Empowerment Circle of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge, skill and desire to impact the world.

We are real everyday doctors, Ph.D.s, lawyers, self-made millionaires (keyword self-made), Licensed Professionals, Elite Coaches, Consultants and Mentors.

Click to meet all our mentor experts .

Powerful Women Today’s Magazine is our way to bring strategies, solutions, inspiration, and Aspirations to women globally in a real and authentic way. No more photoshopping, less of the circle of shame , and none of the ridiculous sex tips, unrealistic expectations, consumerism, and celebrity culture. We offer what women want to read about: practical life, career, and entrepreneurial advice, clothes a human-shaped person can wear, and – wait for it – books written by experts who have lived through an experience and now offer expert solutions on parenting, relationships, self-care, money, intellectual development, happiness, peace….

Our Mission and Vision are to champion and empower Women’s Emotional and Financial Independence. Our core values of Non-Judgment, Diversity, Equity, Justice and Inclusion inform everything we do. Our desired outcomes are Visibility, Impact and Legacy for all women who wish to be heard.

Our Magazine is our Love letter to you with fresh, intelligent, thought-provoking perspectives and inspired lifestyle, professional, and most of all, realistic solutions for the everyday challenges of superwomen. So…Economist meets Vogue meets

“Championing Women’s Emotional and Financial Independence.”

Veranda meets National Geographic : The Urban Indoor Version…let’s get to it. Here comes Powerful Women Today ™ Magazine.

I hope you enjoy the first issue of our Magazine. Big Love Darlings, Carolina M. Billings Ph.D (C), MA-IS, CHRL, SHRM-SCP Powerful Women Today ™

carolinabillings/

In what areas of your life would you like more confdence, power, inspiration, creativity, knowledge or profciency?

Would it be in any of these areas? Relationships, Happiness, Wellness, Financial, Business, Career, Mental Health, Self-Care, Occupational (Career, Entrepreneurship, Transitions), Parenting and more...

If you said yes, we have an Empowerment Circle for you.

When you join PWT with an Empowerment Circle membership, you gain access to a team of elite experts ready to champion and support you—at the same time, belonging to an empowered community of women with the same goals, concerns, challenges and aspirations as you.

So why join one?

The power of working within a laser-focused single-topic group accelerates and simplifies the action and strategy to implement and achieve your desired outcome. At the same, you will be building your confidence, drive and proficiency. This is what it means to be empowered to achieve your goals as a woman living your best life as your best self. This is the path to Emotional and Financial Independence.

Powerful Women Today’s commitment to breaking down barriers to success means starting where you are. Our PWT Empowerment Circle membership connects our Mentor Experts with those wishing

to succeed in intimate, topic-focused teams.

We meet twice a month. One Circle with your group Mentor Expert and One with all our Empowerment Circle sisters on a monthly global call. And of course additional benefits of membership within Powerful Women Today.

All these for $29 per month. Say it with me: Wow!

Click here to choose your PWT Empowerment Circle:

•Speaking & Visibility to Monetize your Message with Stacey Hall. If you have been given your message away for free and want to learn the best strategies to convert your message into income, this is for you.

•Choose Your Adventure. Join Mentor Expert Dortha Hise on a journey of mindfulness and connection with nature to bring peace and inner harmony. Click here for more info.

•Level Up with Simone Sloan Entrepreneurs and Professionals will benefit from meeting successful C-Suite guest speakers addressing the joy and challenges of leveling up. Click here to more info.

•Reclaim Your Shadow with Sallie Wagner. Let’s face it when we accept and claim our shadow-self reconcile with our past, close open chapters and integrate into our best self.

•Become an AUTHORity with Melanie Herschorn. Join Mentor Expert Melanie to share your mission with the world by becoming an author.

How You Define Transformation Matters To Your Success and Happiness

by Powerful Women Today

Change is inevitable. It is often said that change is the only constant. Sometimes we’re prepared for it, other times not. You always hope for the former --for change to be deliberate, strategic and brought on by the opportunity to transform.

Change however is not the same as transformation. As humans, we experience transformation at many points in our life organically. We Transform from an infant to a toddler, transforming from a woman to a mother, midlife offers transformation by sending our hormones into a dance or a revolution sometimes both at the same time. Eventually organically transform into elders, sages if you will, understanding and remembering a life full of opportunities taken and more often than not missed.

In fact, transformation is essential to longevity. This brings us to the consideration of the empowerment of intentional transformation. Whether brought on by internal discoveries and insights or necessitated by external forces, we ought to consider the impact of not being an active participant in developing the person we choose to be, the experiences we choose to have and purposely minimizing the loss of potentially transformative moments.

To thrive in today’s ever-changing world, transformation by choice is imperative. But there are many ways to do it. The one constant is your role, as the author of your own life, and the need for your direct involvement.

Put simply, we can no longer afford to maintain the status quo. We need to be ready to take educated risks; be constantly on the lookout for disruptive patterns, toxic environments and things or people that simply no longer work for us; and be willing to set a transformative, vision that enables us to capitalize on opportunities, counter any threat and maximize value. Transformation when self-determined, can result in the highest level of personal fulfillment.

The question is, how? How do we determine our exact role, the exact time or the modalities to be used in transformation? And where should we focus our finite time and energy to best help you succeed on this journey?

Transforming Self

Transformation by Radical Self-Respect by Carolina Billings

Radical Self-Respect is about changing our mindsets and changing how we look at our own lives. It is about taking ownership and responsibility for how we treat ourselves and how we let other people treat us. It is understood that if we are constantly being mistreated, we are cooperating with the treatment. I hear many people complain that they would do anything for others, but they rarely get the same treatment in return.

Oddly enough, setting boundaries begins within. Boundaries are about what you choose to let into your life, whom you chose to let into your life and the experiences and life you choose to live. In my experience, there are two philosophies that help not only find inner peace but make the journey a delightful celebration of personal independence: Taoism and Mindfulness Meditation.

Mindfully Empowered better yet

Mind Fully Empowered

Being Open to Receive by Dortha Hise

Sometimes being open to receiving can appear in ways that you don’t anticipate. For example, receiving peace about a situation where there was struggle previously. Or perhaps it comes in allowing yourself permission to receive.

Being gentle with yourself throughout the process is a necessary step in order to allow what will come to show up. And while it may

sound like I’m speaking in riddles or circles about receiving as a magical thing that which will render itself with a beacon and a strobe light somewhere, it’s not that. Sometimes the inner things that we work on don’t show up in a physical manifestation of a “thing,” rather as peace or calmness, or satisfaction, etc. Sometimes the gift of receiving is in that openness to receive it.

The Secrets of Transflowmation by Kim Ward

Mindset and personal growth become a new part of my days. I learned about afformations. Don’t confuse this with affirmation. Affirmations are a positive sentence, but what happens when you read or write a sentence that your brain knows is a lie?

Each morning, start your day with one powerful question that only has a positive outcome. Mine was “How can I show up more powerfully today?” This question is called an afformation. It’s not a lie and your brain will be determined to find an answer for this question. Before you know it, you will start to behave in a way that solves this question.

It took me a year and a half to build a global, multiple-six-figure business from home. I was Living my dream of time, freedom, financial independence, and impacting so many people, starting in my own home.

Transforming Relationships

10 Tiny Transformations That Create an Abundantly Prosperous Life by

Stacey Hall

During my early adulthood, I was often a negative person, having grown up in a household that focused on what was wrong…instead of what was good in our lives.

I was eventually introduced to the concept that we manifest what we focus upon, and I realized that I could change my outlook through focused effort and attention. I made a pact with myself to create a set of tools and resources – tiny transformations -- that I would use every day to keep my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy as abundantly high as possible. I call these tools and resources my ‘Energy Surges’

because they boost my attitude up to the highest heights of positivity and prosperity. It is much easier to be a positive and prosperityminded person when we feel our decisions are energizing and empowering and support us to take an action from a sense of desire, passion, commitment, and/or intention.

The Transformational Effect of a Little One on Health, Work, and Relationships

by Leona Krasner

Baby-making and work. What an adventure. From the get-go, I knew I would go back to work sooner rather than later after baby boy was born. The moment he was out, however, I knew the focus would have to be on him. The key was re-prioritizing my life such that baby was front and center.

I am the Founder and Managing Partner of a ten-employee law firm that helps folks in New York and New Jersey with their family law needs. I had two key goals as they related to work and my baby:

1.My baby would be nourished almost fully with my milk; and

2.I wanted to maximize my time with my little love to the greatest degree I could.

People talk about how much of a burden a new baby puts on a relationship. Heck, I see it in my law practice all the time. But surely that wouldn’t happen to me.

Turns out that caring for a whole new human, coupled with way less sleep than we had ever had before, meant that the pressure hit us, even though I did not expect it to do so. Communication was key. My husband asking me in those first post-birth days how I was feeling, really, made such a difference. Taking the time over dinner, or whichever five-minute meal we could grab before baby let us know he was up again, to share our worries, best practices, latest Internet or Facebook mommy group discoveries we had learned, and plan together, made all the difference.

From Yes to Forever by Stephaney Campbell

Many couples may underestimate the power of marriage preparation. Some couples are even reluctant to the idea as they may feel it to be an outdated practice. As the saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Whether you’re newly engaged, planning your wedding day, or have been married for years, it can come as a shock for couples to experience challenges, disagreements, and struggles in their relationships. All too often, couples approach the big day with the assumption that the marriage of fairy tales will be theirs, that their love will always be enough, and that maintaining their relationship while taking care of themselves as individuals will be easy.

As wonderful as that may sound, all couples face challenges, now challenges. Now we have created a plan to help couples build that foundation. My brilliant mentor, Hailey Party and -founder of the Happy Love marriage preparation workshop, has taught me how to guide couples and help them insulate their marriages using 5 essential steps to creating an IDEAL marriage. This method has helped me in my relationship, as well as in the couples I have coached.

Transforming Relationships with Money

by Ean Price Murphy

I had always thought of money as a necessary evil, a unit of exchange in which I begrudgingly gave up my time so that I could pay my bills. When I started working for myself, I could set my price based on what I wanted to charge to have a comfortable life - not just what a boss was able to afford to pay me. When I was able to charge based on the value I provided and find clients who wanted the services I was offering, my relationship to money transformed.

The daily stress and worry dissipated and I found that most months I had a little extra money to do with as I wished. Conversations with myself about my goals and values and how I wanted to save or use the excess became normal. I was able to put money away for retirement, save for vacations, and support charities that were important to me. I came to realize is that realize that money is necessary to be able to catalyze the changes I wanted to see in my life,

my community, and the world. Now I no longer view money as a unit of exchange for time, but for impact. I no longer view money as neutral but as a tool for good.

Transforming Your World

Harness Your Energy to Transform Your Ideas into Reality

by Elisa Magill

“Everything is energy & that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”

~ Darryl Anka

Today, self-help books are abundant and available to us from multiple sources. Many of these books discuss the potential to create our own realities. Is it “fluff?” Is it something a “con-artist” came up with to steal millions from those who wish it to be true? Some would say this is the case. However, the research shows that there is something to the belief we share in a cause. In a sense, when we think something and believe it to be true, we are energizing that belief. We are giving it life. When we continue to envision that reality, our brain will believe it to be true, and will work to make that belief a reality (Hill, 2008).

This is why some research will show that visualization works. If the brain thinks negatively, it will negatively charge our thoughts, and our negative thoughts and actions will follow. However, if our brain envisions positive outcomes, our thoughts and actions will follow in that desired direction as well. In this way, we can build momentum and energy in any direction we choose.

Should I stay or should I Go

by Gina Marie De Leon

Often, I see people moving companies and running into the exact same reasons they initially decided to move because they never addressed the underlying issue, which is their lack of belief, be honest with yourself in this area. Have you given the company a fair try, and focused on all the right things? What specifically needs to change for it to work, and do you have

reasonable grounds on which to believe that is likely to happen and in what time frame? Do you believe that another company is more aligned with your vision, are you passionate about it and believe it is a better place for you?

Whether you stay or go, make the decision, and plant your flag, because the people that have made an impact and have become financially successful in this business are those that stood the test of time. It is all right if you want to go somewhere else, but do not be a company hopper the minute things get tough, or you are never going to have staying power in this profession. The people that have staying power are the ones that find a company that they are aligned with in terms of their values, they believe the leadership has character and integrity, they love the products, and it is a fair compensation plan,. and they plant their flag in the ground and they get to work, ride the ups and downs, they understand they there are good years in the and bad years, but they never waver. They have a vision, and they keep going, and that is why they succeed.

How to Become a Subject Matter Expert

by Melanie Herschorn

Transforming into the expert you want to be is less not about spending the 10,000 hours to hone your craft, a number that’s been attributed to author Malcolm Gladwell. You don’t even have to be a “professional” (whatever the heck that means).

What you really need to have is the right mindset and a few tools in your arsenal that I’ve outlined below.

Yes. It can be that uncomplicated. It can even be done without attending medical school.

I know lots a lot of experts who are too encumbered by impostor syndrome to charge for their expertise. I used to be (and sometimes still am) one of them. Even my dog sitter has trouble asking for her desired fee after 28 years in the business.

Feelings Matter

The “feeling” part is important to touch upon.

Many of us are our own worst enemies. We can get all the positive feedback in the world but if we hear one negative comment, we’ll fixate on it. If one person says something that triggers us to make us question our expertise, we’re likely to wonder if we should just throw in the towel now.

Whenever this happens, I want you to go back to tools 1 through 3. Read something to make you feel like you’ve gained some new knowledge. Share that knowledge with someone you can help. Then, consider writing about your expertise in a book so that you can support even more people across the globe. With a book and a plan to market it, the sky is the limit.

Tapping Into the Power of Transformation: Turning your Mess into Your Message

by Mindy McManus

I never thought that I would be considered a bestselling author before becoming a bestselling speaker. Speaking is one of my true callings. Not in a bragging kind of way, but in a way to share a point. I have been mocked for my writing my whole life. It was bad. Like, really bad. Enough where my boss offered, no, demanded that I take a business writing course. Thankfully, I found a really good course. I wouldn’t have ever, in a million years, thought that I would be a part of three best selling books and become a best selling author. Just because you aren’t good at something doesn’t mean that you can’t learn or transform.

Transformation is a gift. Even if it is thrust upon you. So when you get that crappy feedback, the bad break, the loss of a job, the loss of a marriage, etc. Remember that you are not alone. Transformation is inevitable. We can embrace it, or it will embrace us.

I would like to invite you to start a journal as you embark on your transformation journey.

Healthy Habits by

Monika Greczek

I realized that the habits I created only took me away from my goals, and the results were

not what I expected. How could this happen? It happened and I needed to reflect on what I needed to do to create what I really wanted. I wasn’t moving forward at all. Things were changing, but not for the good.

Healthy, Happy, and Positive Habits. How do I create this when I am constantly telling myself tomorrow, later, it isn’t that bad, etc. I took a good look in the mirror and told myself to do it now before it’s to late. You have everything you need. Now, one day, one breathe, one meal, one step, one exercise, one positive thought, etc. You get what I am saying? Then repeat every day. That good habit will start producing results, changes, happiness, and whatever you heart desires.

Transformation: Your Strategy for Life

by Sallie Wagner

As I mentioned earlier, my transformation started with internal awareness. It started on the inside, and then I manifested it in the landscape of my reality. It all started with a decision. Everything begins with a decision. Not just wanting, but actually deciding. When you decide, the thing you’ve decided for happens.

As you make that decision in your life, you transform your thoughts and beliefs about yourself. Those thoughts and beliefs determine your feelings, which are transformed by those transformed thoughts and beliefs. Those feelings determine your decisions, which are also transformed by those transformed feelings. Those decisions determine your actions, which are likewise transformed by those transformed decisions. And those actions determine your results, which are now your choice, consistent with your transformed thoughts, feelings, decisions, and actions.

So, by design and natural progression, the internal transformation is manifested in the landscape of your reality through your decisions, actions, and results.

Now that you understand the progression, you’re ready for the frst step in your transformation –

your overall strategy for your life.

Transforming Your Leadership and Impact on others

Transforming Toxic Rockstars into Servant Leaders

by Simone Sloan

Toxic rockstars have an “I and I alone” mentality. I and I alone know what I am doing. I and I alone can handle this. They never look to their team for ideas. In meetings, they do all of the talking. They have no interest in mentoring anyone, because their only concern is advancing themselves.

In a company, most people know who the toxic rockstars are and their enablers. The exception is the toxic rockstars themselves, who lack the selfawareness to understand the unintended impact of their conduct. They have no idea that people feel damaged by their actions, communications, and behaviors. They do not see the resentment from their team. They live in a bubble and as a result, think that they are doing a great job all around and that everyone agrees with their performance and leadership style.

Toxic rockstars are often successful because they are focused on the specific tasks that let them produce. However, they do not have a vision for their leadership. They do not even have a vision for their life outside of work. They have never considered the questions, “who am I, and am I living my best life?”

A transformation journey towards cultural humility

by Youssef Skalli

“What is here is elsewhere, what is not here is nowhere” said to me my grandmother, “Lalla” as I loved to call her, with a shaken voice while gently laying her hand over my heart before hugging me strongly… I can still sense the smell of her rose scented perfume.

As per some professional standards, by now I would qualify for a “Cultural Competency” badge.

What does it mean to be culturally competent? Does it require you to travel the world to develop a cultural competence or competency?

Can you really become a cultural competence expert?

Spoiler alert! Over the years I came to the conclusion that while I continue developing a sense of cultural curiosity, I am not, and cannot be, culturally competent, and I do not think you can be either.

I invite you to pause here for a moment and think first of what is your definition of the term “culture” is, what do you think culture it is? And later, ask others around you to share their definition of culture.

Understanding the story you tell yourself about money, opening up to others’ stories, and recognizing the differences gives you the opportunity to rewrite it if necessary and helping others to do the same if they need your help and ask for it.

Unleash the drive to try new things, maintain a culture of transformation while staying true to your values and you will see a long-lasting change in multiple areas of your life.

Let Transformation commence!

Read More from PWT Publishing’s latest Bestseller30 Days to Transformation.

Click to get your copy (US)

Click to get your copy (Canada)

PWT:

Your book is called For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation. What is your mission?

LKSA: My mission is to teach women to harness the power of everyday negotiation so they can confidently show up in every aspect of their lives –from getting their toddler to eat their peas to being the most powerful woman in the room, and everything in between. I would even call it my brand promise.

PWT: We, as women, often apologize in situations where men do not. Why do we do it?

LKSA: We use a lot of dismissive and self-deprecating language. How many times have you said, “you probably already thought of this,” “Now this might be a silly question, “I don’t know if this is contributing anything useful, but…” I’ve said all those things. We were socialized to be that way by our parents, by our communities, and even by our teachers.

I was taught to be powerless. I was taught to not question authority, to cooperate, to smile, to always be helpful, and give and give and give and just keep giving. And in my day, there was no talking back. Essentially, the messaging was so contradictory. Don’t speak up. Don’t stand up for yourself. Some of the worst bullies in my life haven’t been

p eers, they’ve been adul ts who should have known better whe n I was a child.

P W T: How much do you think maled ominated workplace culture has to do with parenting of boys and how much do you think has t o do with the fact that once you join t he old boys’ c lub, you just sort of d rink the KoolAid?

L K SA: Sorry to break th e n ews to all the parents o u t there – a n d I am a parent of t wo t eenagers who eat their o w n bod y weight in food every day – I think o u r we have may be a 50% influence o n our kids. S o that would be a pretty good ROI. The r es t of i t , t hey’re g etting from peers, f rom teachers, from the environment, from social media.

A lot of it is invisible struc t ur es that are in place t h at we aren’t even aware o f I ju st learned this y ear that workplace thermosta t s, even now in 202 2, a re still set t o a 1960s standard based on the resting metabolic r ate of 160 pound, 4 0-year-old man. My whole car ee r I w a s always cold i n offices. It’s that the work place basically wasn’ t bu ilt to make me comfortab le. And in fact, it was built t o make a different ve ry sp ecific demograph ic comfortable, and for me to be uncomfortable.

Here’s another fact. O nly about 14.5% of me n are six feet tall or ove r, a nd yet 58% of fortune 500 C EOs a r e six feet tall or ove r. D id yo u also know 60% of U S presidents have b een six f eet or taller? T here’s a correlation with sa lar y, that for e v ery inch o v er 5’9, a man realizes a 2.5% greater salar y. n in n i n i

n i t here’s a 7% w a g e pen a lty for women n child. In the US, it’s about 4% and inversel y, for e a ch child, men get o f about 6%. So now we’ve got a difference of 10% for each child born between men and wom en, plus the fact that the man 4 times more l ikely to have n egotiated his com pensation from the get-go. T hat d if ference is never m ade up over time . in

P W T: So how do we break t hrough i nvisible structures if we can’t see t hem?

L K SA: That’s som ething that I’m d oing. I do it t h rough social media posts. An d an other way is to t each women to negotiate. Women are really sca red t o do that and they are not usin g the power that t h ey have within t hem. And I’m not saying e mpowerment, becaus e n n

you haven’t arrived yet. I’m saying you have it alread y. And start practicing negotiation skills in low- stakes, everyday contexts that are familiar to them. You’re building those musc les up, and it’s going to prepare you for the higher- stakes negotiations down the road. But if we put it all on women and sa y, “ You have to be the one to negotiate your salary or compensation packag e ,” that’s putting a lot of the burden on individual women to do that.

We also need organizational change. Here’s a radical thought that I would suggest to organizations: track how much more often men negotiate their salary versus women or n on-binary people. If you notice that disparit y, maybe you adopt a policy like we don’t negotia te compensation. As an organization, you level the playing field.

Also, organizations need to be tracking the caregiver status of their employees. The U.S. economy is losing something like $35 b illion a year because of the caregiving responsibilities of employees n . Onc e again, women are being disproportio nately impacted –w omen of colo r, even more so.

in a gainst the authoritarian, oppressive regime; women in India breaking out of the repressive caste system; women disrupting t he status quo that has left th em and others out of discourse, decisio ns, and design.

And let us please remember that progress is not linea r. We take steps forward in some areas and slide bac kward in others. We keep at it, resisting the simplified fiction of inevitable progress unfolding to the present o r, worse, the prepossessed assert ion that nothing has ever changed.

PW T: Your ideas for change absolutely resonate with our readers. What do you b elieve the future holds for women?

LKSA: The future is now. We have Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson – with her savvy and her patience, who has already used the conservatives’ own originalist framework to interpret the const itution for social justice and equal rights. We have young Generation Z women – who question the status quo and are climate activists. There’s a 17-yea r-old woman I featured on my podcast... she’s a freshman in college now... w ho organized an inclusive dance program at her high scho ol in San Franc isco for students who had been left out of traditional dance due to disabilities. Oh, and in addition to being a classically trained ballerina, she’s a chemist.

Click here to get Lucia’s book on Amazon

Price Murphy is a business growth strategist with Moxie Proft First Bookkeeping.

PWT: What’s the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

EPM: Accounting covers such an enormous range of services. I am an accountant but not a tax accountant – someone who is a compliance expert to make sure that all of the numbers are in all the right boxes for the government entities. When I say bookkeeper, I am talking about the wide range of people who do everything from data entry into a bookkeeping software all the way up to CFO services. I am an accountant but not a tax accountant.

PWT: What do you think most small business owners need but are not getting from their bookkeepers?

EPM: Entrepreneurs and business owners need to easily know what’s happening with their money and be guided on how to grow their money and their business. They get adequate clarity without spreadsheets to grow sustainably and profitably rather than just grow.

PWT: Your company is Profit First Certified and now you’re moving into being Profit Firstfocused company-wide. Why is that important?

EPM: Think of bookkeeping and Profit First like beans and rice. They exist separately, but are magic together. Profit First is an early warning system. The problems within a business that show up initially show up as cashflow problems. So whether it’s utilization rates of labor that’s going to show up as cash flow. If it’s not getting a return on investment on some of your spending, that’s going to show up as cash flow. Even the smallest of businesses should have at least 5 percent profit and should be paying the owner somewhere between 20 percent and 50 percent of the income. What we find is most businesses have zero profit and are still not paying their owners consistently.

PWT: What inspired you to become a Profit First Certified company?

EPM: It was my clients. I had several creative clients telling me “you hand me like these crazy multi-tab Excel spreadsheets that I’m never going to look at.” Profit First is at a glance financial clarity without spreadsheets. What changed my opinion from interest to all-in was when I tested Profit First on my own business. My take-home pay doubled without a single extra dollar of income.

I realized that I was doing what my accountant was telling me to do (and what all small business owners do) which is: I got to the end of the quarter or the year and said ‘look how much money there is in my bank account. Let’s invest in an online course. Let’s buy a new software package. Let’s bonus everybody.’ It wasn’t until I saw what a business owner should be getting paid in relation to their income that I realized I’d totally overspend on things that I don’t really need to get a write off. I was literally handing other people my money.

Photo Credit: She’s In Business.

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Do you desire to make a powerful impact in a meaningful way?

Then you must master sharing your message through a variety of communication platforms as quickly as possible.

Podcasting, book publishing, paid speaking opportunities, summits, webinars, and blogging are all essential – in addition to social media sites – to bringing your message to the largest audience possible and to making sales faster.

PWT’s IMPACT Membership Level provides the training and tools to maximize your skills and minimize the time it takes to master each of these pathways.

The opportunities for growing your business through these pathways are impressive and massive.

Currently there are over 464 million podcast listeners globally and it is expected this audience will grow to more than 504 million by the end of 2024. To reach these listeners with your message requires developing the skills to be booked as a frequent guest on existing podcasts and then how to host your own podcast.

Book publishing is growing at a phenomenal rate. The global books market size was valued at $138.35 billion USD in 2021 and is expected to keep expanding. Increasing consumer spending on books supported by rising incomes, as well as continued formatting innovations that have enhanced the overall reading experience are the factors boosting the market.

The motivational speakers’ market in the U.S. alone generated $1.9 billion in revenues in 2019 and is expected to grow to $2.30 billion by 2025. The ‘average’ professional speaker has an annual income of about $106K

while senior-level speaker earnings begin at about $218K per year. And non-speaking activities -- selling books, courses, coaching, etc. associated with speaking opportunities -actually account for 60% of a speaker’s total income.

Businesses that post blogs experience twice as much email traffic as businesses who don’t. Over 50% of bloggers report that it has gotten harder to get traffic from Facebook over the past two years, and nearly one-fifth say it has gotten harder to get traffic from Google.

As a PWT IMPACT Member, you have access to monthly Masterclasses to train you in the latest message-maximizing strategies to get booked on speaking stages and podcasts, as well as having your articles published in magazines, blogs, and featured in books.

For all the details, click here

3 Easy Ways To Add FUN Into Your Wardrobe

The one thing missing from most professional women’s wardrobes is FUN!

The lack of playfulness and creativity often shows up in one of the following ways:

• Holding on to this idea of what a successful woman looks like and not showing much personality in their wardrobe.

• Not stepping outside of their comfort zone or trying something new in fear of judgment.

• Feeling like they are playing dress-up, but in boring clothes instead of fun clothes.

If any of these sound like you... I have a question:

How would it feel if you added more fun, more creativity, and more YOU to your wardrobe?

The good news is you can add more of yourself into your wardrobe right away. Here are three simple steps to take, starting now:

1. Get out of your rut.

We all are creatures of habit and find pleasure in keeping things simple, but buying the same top in every color or sticking to a uniform can lead to that closet full of clothes and nothing to wear feeling really fast! Instead, mix it up a little by challenging yourself to incorporate a fun accessory, add texture, or change your handbag.

2.Wear a color or a print with something other than black.

Black pants are the biggest cause of a style rut… because in your mind everything goes with them. Quit relying on the idea that black goes with everything… find a unique color combination that you love such as camel and hunter green, grey and purple, or pink and navy. They make surprising yet beautiful combinations.

3.Stay curious!

Stop saying “I can’t pull that off!” Here’s the thing, you can pull that off if you wanted to. So When you see something you love on someone instead of letting your mind immediately go to

“looks great on her, but not for me”, get curious how you to incorporate what you like about her outfit in your own style.

My challenge for you is to find a way to add some of your unique personality into your wardrobe every day!

Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ imagecoachmelanielippman/

ings Smart Women Need to Know about Transforming eir Hormones

If you’ve ever wondered if your hormones are out of balance, chances are, they are. If you’ve ever felt frustrated looking for answers, but not really finding any, you’re not alone. There is a movement brewing towards talking about hormones, particularly related to menopause. There is demand for more understanding and research. LinkedIn even named Menopause as one of 41 Big Ideas for 2023.

No matter your age and stage in life, hormone imbalances can wreak havoc on your body, emotions and relationships. According to Northwell Health,as many as 80 percent of women have hormone imbalances, particularly related to estrogen and progesterone. However, many do not realize their hormones are off, and unfortunately, Western Medicine typically falls short of providing answers or treatment options that go beyond birth control or hormone replacement therapy as symptom management.

There is also a rising demand among welleducated and driven women who wish to address their hormones without turning to supplements or medication. They want to get to the root cause of why their hormones are off in the first place. Here are the three things smart and driven women need to know about balancing your hormones naturally that are focused at the root, and not just on the symptoms:

1.Hormones are a product of their environment

There’s a common saying among hormone experts that was coined by Dr. Cheryl Burdette –”it’s not the hormones, it’s their environment. While we tend to focus on the external parts of our environment, for example cleaning and personal care products, water, and plastics, there’s an entire layer to this that also encompasses the impact of our emotional health on our internal cellular environment.

2.Stress throws the whole system off. Stress is a huge factor in the environment in which hormones live. Cortisol, the stress hormone, throws the entire system off kilter and will

impact your thyroid and sex hormones. It steals precursors to your sex hormones, will convert progesterone into cortisol, and completely shuts down pathways for thyroid hormone production. All of us live with a much higher baseline of stress and we tend not to always recognize the signs. Even if you don’t “feel” stressed, operate as if you are stressed.

3.The path to hormone balance is in cultivating internal safety first. Approaches to hormone imbalance tend to include a) medication when symptoms get beyond bearable or b) diets, supplements and exercise. The problem is, unless you have an established barometer for internal safety – meaning you are aware of your body, emotions and needs on a level that goes beyond your intellectual brain – none of those modalities will have the desired effect because the internal environment in which your hormones live has not changed. There is certainly value in lifestyle changes; however to truly have an impact, we first have to shift our way of being in the world.

If you can make the shift to transforming your internal environment before your external environment, your hormones will follow.

Connect with Dr. Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ dralexridley/

with Monika Greczek

Did you know that acute inflammation may cause:

• Flushed skin at the site of the injury.

• Pain or tenderness.

• Swelling.

• Heat.

Signs of chronic inflammation can include:

• Abdominal pain.

• Chest pain.

• Fatigue. (example: systemic lupus)

• Fever. (example: tuberculosis)

• Joint pain or stiffness. (example: rheumatoid arthritis)

• Mouth sores. (example: HIV infection)

• Skin rash. (example: psoriasis)

Shop the complete line of Natura products at https://naturahempco.com/

Monika Greczek is a woman who has gone out and achieved her goals and continues to. She had started to envision the life she wanted to create since she was a young girl.

Through all the books, coaching, classes, education, work, and intentions, she has followed her dreams. She started doing hair at the age of 14, won 1st place in the manikin competition at the Cosmetology school she attended, then went onto achieving all her goals and graduating top of her class. She received her Cosmetology License at 16 years of age and also was promoted at the salon to assistant manager. Doing hair came naturally to her. Her clients loved the way they looked and felt after receiving services from Monika, even now her clients love that they always feel better after their visit with her. She listens to herself and her clients and always does what is best. There are people from all over that come to see Monika and receive that magic though she has through doing hair, massage, body work, coaching and engaging with them. She has become a fabulous hair artist, mentor, and coach. https://naturahempco.com/

Powerful Women in r Herstor

Fnida alo

3 Reasons Porque Yo Amo a Freida Kahlo

by Carolina M. Billings

Frida Kahlo, in my opinion, has become one of the ultimate icons for Powerful Women, her unique personality and multifaceted life in the deeply patriarchal culture that is Latin America then and now. She has become a standard-bearer for women’s inner strength, for courage in the face of adversity. Above all, she was a genuine woman who was faithful to her convictions.

To this day, Freida is considered the best artist Mexico has ever seen. Her paintings are still honoured at prestigious museums throughout the world. They have stood and continue to stand for Diversity and Self-Inclusion. Her art represents women in a way that impacts you forever. I have had the pleasure of seeing many of her original portraits. The majority of her works rest in the very house in which Freida was born and died. La Casa Azul, or The Blue House, serves as a museum for Freida and her paintings.

charismatic, and beautiful in a way that was unique to her. She was wildly interesting, and I can only imagine her as the queen for all who refuse to maintain the status quo.

3.The “F” in feminism ought to stand for “Freida.”

She defied the traditional art depiction of female beauty and painted raw and painful experiences that many women go through including miscarriage, sexuality, and the social position of women. Kahlo refused to be a victim of a broken body, mind or spirit. “I suffered two serious accidents in my life, one in which a bus threw me to the ground... The other accident is Diego,” Freida famously said.

The Mexican artist’s life wasn’t easy: Freida contracted polio as a child, had a near-fatal, life-changing accident as a teenager, married a renowned artist who had countless affairs, struggled with infertility, ailing health, and a lifetime of chronic pain. But Freida Kahlo found her salvation in the paintbrush and transformed her experiences into beautiful and emotionally charged art. She lived by her own rules, trusted her vision and, most of all, she trusted herself.

1.Freida did Freida Unapologetically. Freida was a woman ahead of her time, questioning gender roles and identity in an era when those weren’t even topics for discussion. She even showed up for her family photo dressed in a men’s suit. Her fashion, an eyecatching blend of European and traditional Mexican styles, put her on the cover of Vogue Magazine.

2. To me, Freida symbolizes strength in the face of adversity. She represents the embodiment that pain and hardship do not need to stop us; they can push us and make us think outside the box. Her work can influence us and make us better people/artists/creators. She was confident,

“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”

–Freida Kahlo

“I am my own muse. The subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.”– Freida Kahlo

Reclaim Your Shadow: Integrate and Celebrate Your Power

Are you connected to your Shadow? Is it part of you, fully integrated? Or, like Peter Pan, is your Shadow detached, on the loose, running around creating havoc?

Separation from Shadow is separation from your power. Integration of Shadow is integration into your personal power. And that’s the reason to Reclaim Your Shadow!

Shadow is that part of you that is in your unconscious, not yet integrated into your conscious awareness.

We may sometimes mistakenly think of Shadow as the scary parts, the “dark” parts. The unattractive parts that we’re not proud of. The ones that we don’t want to admit we have. The parts that we cover in shame and secrecy. Yet, Shadow is much more than that.

It’s certainly true that sometimes our Shadow parts come from trauma and pain. From unresolved, unintegrated experiences in life.

But it’s also true that Shadow parts come from faulty perceptions about life and about ourselves.

Shadow contains the parts that we repress; the parts that we don’t consciously express. Those parts that are wild, untamed, instinctual, intuitive, creative, threatening. Those parts that we’re told need to be controlled or eliminated.

When you reclaim your Shadow, you gain a greater and deeper understanding and acceptance of yourself and others.

You connect to your authenticity, resilience, intuition, creativity, freedom, and power. As you work in and with Shadow, you integrate

those parts into the whole fabric of your life –the whole vessel of your life – beautifully adorned, decorated, celebrated at each point of integration, as you create and live the life that makes you come alive!

Like the Japanese art of kintsugi, you recreate and reframe the “flaws” of your life, adorned with gold dust, silver dust, platinum dust, stardust – the brilliance of all of creation.

You no longer hide or disguise the “flaws,” the different-ness. Instead, you see them as part of the history of your life. You adorn, decorate, celebrate, integrate them into the whole fabric and vessel of your life as you create an integrated whole, more beautiful and dazzling than the original.

Are you ready to Reclaim Your Shadow? Are you ready to Integrate and Celebrate Your Power? Join me as we launch my new coaching program – Reclaim Your Shadow.

Winter Planning for Future Adventures

Winter is a wonderful time to begin planning adventures for the spring, summer, and fall!

I use the winter months when activities might be a little bit less easily accessible, to get into planning mode for the upcoming warmer ones.

The first step is to get out maps and identify our plans.

For example, my husband and I are working on completing our hike of the Pacific Crest Trail on the Sierra section. We have now completed several hundred miles, and we have about 150 miles to go.

As we look at how to plan the remaining stretch of the trail, We work to identify access points where there are places to camp the night before. Then we will hike for 50 or 60 miles, and then get to a good point to be able to get off the trail easily and to a maintained road.

When we aren’t out snowshoeing or partaking in another snow adventure, we use the time we are cozy at home to get into the mindset of planning and preparing for an upcoming adventure.

If you aren’t sure where to start, I recommend looking at trips people you know have taken… reach out and ask questions. Begin looking at maps, and looking at the destination. You can look at excursions that might be available to you. You can look at hotels, amenities, and things like that depending on the way that you like to adventure. Everyone’s comfort

level is different. Some people don’t mind sleeping on the ground, while others would never dream of it.

So it’s really about what you’re willing to and not willing to do. Then branch out into whatever you think is going to be fun for you. There is an adventure to be found every day.

As I write this, our area is enduring thunderstorms, so I’m enjoying the adventure of not knowing when lightning and thunder are going to strike. And not knowing if we’ll lose power.

Other ways I bring adventure to every day are through the organizations or entities that I am in. For example, the Powerful Women Today community has been a great way to connect and find adventure. There are opportunities to partner up and have friends to grow with you, whether in business or on a personal level.

Great friendships and connections have been forged and I think it’s really fun to have a conversation with someone and say, ‘hey, I’m planning a trip into your area and would love to see if we can coordinate, getting together while I’m there.’

There are so many possibilities… how will you adventure next?

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.”

– Rachel Wolchin

by Car'lina M. Billings

Radical Self Respect. Setting our Boundaries and Knowing our Non-Negotiables

Excerpt from Chapter in “30 Days to Transformation”

by Carolina M. Billings

Radical Self-Respect is about changing our mindsets and how we view our lives. It is about taking ownership and responsibility for how we treat ourselves and how we let other people treat us. It is understood that if we are constantly being mistreated, we are cooperating with the treatment. I hear many people complain that they would do anything for others, but they rarely get the same treatment.

Oddly enough, setting boundaries begins within. Boundaries are about what you choose to let into your life, whom you chose to let into your life and the experiences and life you choose to live.

Resources, Relationships, Self-Development and Self-Maintenance

The old master’s teachings, even after two and a half thousand years, are world-renowned, studied and practised by millions around the world. Reflecting and beginning to know who you are through the four fundamental areas of life, helps to understand not only who you are, but what you want and do not want to have in your life. After all, you are 100% in control of your mind, body and spirit.

Number One: Resources.

Having your resources at peace is like stretching a bow. The high is lowered, the low is raised, the excess is reduced, and the deficiency is replenished. The Way reduces the excess and replenishes deficiency. People’s way is often not so.

Flow and Balance

The concept of balancing the complementary parts can be applied to the subject of resource management. We have to make sure we don’t use too much of one resource at the expense of another.

When you use your talents in your job to excess, you get promoted, and you enjoy doing overtime at work, doing what you love, but you completely ignore your health. You don’t take your time to replenish your physical power in the long run. This can be very detrimental and can even shorten your life. If you use one resource to excess, you create disharmony in the universe.

Number Two: Relationships

Living in harmony means doing no harm and, moreover, nurturing, protecting, and contributing to the well-being of everything around you. As all humans are part of this universe, we have to see others as our extended family. We have to take care of each other.

“No person is an island, and being happy has much to do with the relationship between you and what surrounds you.”

Scientific studies prove the importance of having a healthy social life. For example, a Harvard study on adult development found that good relationships are the key factors that matter most for long-lasting happiness. Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. One of the most important ways to achieve lifelong happiness is to focus on meaningful relationships and on trying to improve or eliminate the bad relationships in our lives.

Number Three: Self-Development

Self-mastery plays a major key in people who spend enough time working on selfdevelopment and self-mastery to understand themselves in a better way. They can control their thoughts. They know how to avoid negative thinking. And they know how to learn from their mistakes.

“Growing personally leads to more happiness”

Number Four: Self-Maintenance

“How you treat yourself is teaching others how they can treat you”

The human body is said to have its own energy pattern, which is known as Zang Fu. The Zang Fu model has particular organs that correspond to the five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The organs have Yin and Yang properties (energies) assigned which, if not balanced, will result in particular illnesses to keep the Yin and Yang energies in balance.

Putting it all together

To really start to implement this way of living I would love for you to consider three exercises. Past, Present, and Future.

Journaling & Self-Discovery Exercise #3. From now on…

6 words to help you set better boundaries

Setting stronger boundaries is central to strong leadership and your ability to reign as sovereign queen of your own life. Think about it: having a border -- and lovingly protecting that border -- is what makes a nation a sovereign, independent nation. Whenever we travel, we always pass through border control. The officers are generally kind but firm (to me, anyway).

Kindness and firmness: the two greatest qualities of a boss boundary setter.

Chances are you need to set some boundaries in your own life right now. Maybe you need to delineate what you will and will not accept in your personal life or professional life. Perhaps you need to be clearer about what you will and will not tolerate from family members, clients, team members, etc.

In other words -- to reach your next level of success, you may need to become your own border control officer from time to time.

When that time comes, I have 6 words which -- when used in this exact order -- allow you to firmly and elegantly set boundaries, enforce them, and activate your power as sovereign queen of your own life and person.

Here they are:

That does not work for me.

A simple, straightforward phrase you can use anytime to firmly and respectfully set a boundary.

That does not work for me. No apology. Instead… “but this will” after all, every non-negotiable ought to have a negotiable on your own terms.

For the full chapter and all three exercises click here:

US - click here Canada - click here

ldtor's Note r

My favorite pair of socks have an important message. They boldly tell anyone who sees my ankles: I’m silently correcting your grammar.

Yes. I’m one of those people. The people who wince when you say “between you and I” or “mis-chee-vee-ous’ or “me and him” are going to the store.

It’s not a superiority thing – a point of contention between my husband and me (see what I did there?) – instead, it is about taking ownership of your message and being the best version of yourself you can be.

The quality of your messaging is what separates the women from the girls. When you are clear, concise, and you speak to your intended audience in a way they understand, you can create a community of raving fans who will happily buy your books, products, and services. Why? Because you get them. Even more importantly, you will be making this world a better place because you will be sharing your incredible mission and vision with those around you.

I have been preparing for this role as Powerful Women Today Magazine Editor in one form or another for my entire career. Back in the aughts, I was walking red carpets with celebrities, writing press releases, and pitching stories to media outlets. After completing a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern California, I set to work as a news anchor and reporter on the radio then worked as a newspaper reporter.

The next step in my career won’t sound like a logical trajectory: I became an entrepreneur and designed and manufactured breastfeeding clothing which sold on Nordstrom.com, Amazon, and at boutiques across North America. Now as a book marketing strategist

for nonfiction and children’s book authors, I help coaches, speakers, and consultants grow their audiences, make more money, and make a big impact with their book.

At Powerful Women Today Magazine, our mission is to elevate the conversation and empower our readers to feel like the world changers you are.

Cheers, Melanie

Connect with Melanie: https://www. linkedin.com/in/melanie-herschorn/

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey.

Our mission is to elevate the conversation and empower our readers to feel like the world changers you are.

2023 International WOMEN'S Day

A time when the official definition of woman had to be reviewed and updated.

What is the modern definition of a woman?

A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural women is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardless of age.

Cambridge Dictionary has updated the definition of 'woman', to make it more inclusive, and adaptive to changing times.

A woman can now be defined as "an adult who lives and identifies as female despite having been said to have a different sex at birth," according to the new Cambridge Dictionary definition.

The dictionary also cited some examples according to the new definition. "She was the first trans woman elected to a national office" and "Mary is a woman who was assigned male at birth."

Earlier, Merriam-Webster added an additional definition of 'female' that defines the term as "having a gender identity that is the opposite of male".

The definition of 'man' has also been updated by the Cambridge Dictionary. As well as definitions including "an adult male human being" and "the human race", it now includes the definition, "an adult who lives and identifies as a male though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth".

What is your definition of a woman?

So You Think You’re An Ally...

by Youssef Skalli

The word “Allyship” gets applied to a variety of causes advocating for stronger equality and equity. But the word itself deserves to be defined.

For me, being an ally is not a label, a title, or an identity. It is definitely not an award. It means standing next to and behind the supported individual or group of people. Allyship is not a one-time action. Instead, it is a life-long process that consists of asking, learning, un-learning, listening, and speaking up.

Whatever the cause and whoever the individuals are you stand for, they and only they, have the right and the full understanding of what an ally means to them and represents. You may want to position yourself as an ally, but if it is not validated by the person, your actions will have less impact.

To be an effective ally, I believe it starts with a selfreflection on your beliefs, self-awareness of your own biases, and is then followed by engaging in a continuous process of inquiry, listening and learning before acting.

If I want to be your ally, I first need your help to understand how I can help. I also need to understand clearly what are my advantages, gifts, and privileges that can support both of us in your journey – a journey in which you are the pilot leading the way and I am using my span of influence to be your co-pilot.

It is important to understand that an ally is not a savior or a fixer. Sometimes just listening actively and carefully is an act of allyship. Empowering others to take action or simply to speak up and share their lived experiences is an act of allyship.

When it comes to women’s empowerment, having male allyship is essential for all. What’s more, men also need women as allies. When everyone joins forces for the greater good, we can drive the change needed for now and for generations to come.

Youssef Skalli is an enthusiastic professional empowerment coach and workshops facilitator with 20+ years of progressive experience in a multinational corporate environment.

After a successful career in corporate Finance and Human Resources, holding leadership roles in different countries and multicultural contexts across the three continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe, he moved to North America and settled in Ottawa –Ontario, Canada where he funded his professional empowerment coaching practice.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/myskalli/

The word “Allyship” gets applied to a variety of causes advocating for stronger equality & equity.

Level Up to Your Business Greatness

by Simone Sloan

What actions and behaviors will you do differently to achieve your goals this year?

Staying focused on your personal and professional goals can be challenging. A goal without a well-thought-out plan lacks true intention and purpose. Having clear goals and objectives that are written out and visible to you daily can support your efforts to stay focused on tasks needed to move forward and also help hold you accountable to your actions.

Here are 3 tips to help you stay focused to get results in 2023:

1. Get Clear on Your Vision

Have you set aside time to think about your professional or personal vision? If you are working towards financial wellness, a healthy lifestyle, or world travel, create goals and objectives with that vision in mind. After all, no vision means no action, which means no results.

Create a list of activities that will support your vision. This should include related projects/tasks, phone calls, e-mails, and networking activities.

Check in with yourself at the end of each week to determine what is working and what is not working. This is a great gut check

on your integrity and will help align your thoughts with actions.

2. Act with Purpose and Set Your Intentions

I, personally, love structure and organization. However, I know that may not work for some. Find your flow and groove. How do you plan out your days and weeks to propel your life forward? If you are planning on the fly, chances are, you may be spending precious time planning rather than using it more productively, like connecting with others, attending network events, or managing your well-being.

Even when you are “busy,” are your actions aligned with your purpose and intention for the life you want? Wasted time plus wasted energy equals wasted efforts.

3. Avoid New Shiny Things

New, shiny things may be cool, but do they support your vision for your well- being, professional career, and relationships? They can be a distraction and time suck.

Now you are ready to focus, plan, and execute!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ simonesloan/

www.YourChoiceCoach.com

https://bit.ly/YourChoiceCoach

As Founder and CEO of Your Choice Coach, Simone is an accomplished business strategist, executive coach, and DEI consultant. She has held senior roles at Fortune 500 companies across marketing, communications, medical affairs, sales, and global business strategy. Her tenure includes successfully launching and leading products and services, implementing programs for key stakeholders across the globe, and developing and training sales, medical, and technical teams.

Simone’s mantra is “Voice, Power, Confidence.” As an emotional intelligence executive coach, she changes the way leaders and their businesses engage their employees and clients. Simone emphasizes the human element with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

The Top Five Trends For Professionals Who Sell Services

by Liz Wendling

You can accomplish extraordinary results and convert more potential clients into paying clients when you create new habits and adopt new trends for 2023. Here are the top 5 trends to implement for success:

Trend #1: Better follow and follow through : Use modern language and stop sounding like everyone else. Stop “following up,” “touching base,” “checking in,” and “reaching out.” These overused phrases do nothing to move the sale forward. They no longer work or get someone’s attention. If they worked, no one would get ghosted, and prospects would return their emails and phone calls.

Trend #2: Stop squandering time on being “busy” versus being productive . Being highly productive at work is an investment that always pays big dividends. The key to increasing your productivity and output and your income is to work the entire time you are at work. Don’t squander that precious commodity. The biggest time wasters are checking email, surfing the web, taking phone calls that distract you, and using up the time you should spend on high-value tasks.

Trend #3: Selling outside your comfort zone . The greatest enemy to your highest potential is continuing to sell inside your comfort zone. No growth or progress can be achieved without stretching, expanding, and stepping out of your zone. A good stretch outside your comfort zone does wonders for your bottom line.

Trend #4: Effective qualifying . Successful professionals have an expert grasp of the qualifying process. They don’t assume that everyone is a buyer. They know how to investigate and dive in to obtain vital information and uncover the truth. They distinguish themselves as experts through their questioning. They employ listening skills to hear what the customer is saying and not saying.

Trend #5: Sell value instead of price . People don’t always buy based on the lowest price. No one believes that the lowest price equals the best offer. You don’t close on price. You win clients on the value that you create. If price is the only thing that matters and people are just looking for “cheap,” Nordstrom would be empty, flying first-class would not exist, and we would all be drinking Folgers instead of Starbucks. Show people the value, and many price objections will disappear. Happy Selling!

Liz Wendling is a nationally recognized speaker, sales consultant, and author of 6 books. Her two most recent are The Heart of Authentic Selling and Sell Without Selling Your Soul.

Liz is driven by the mantra, It’s not WHAT you sell, it’s HOW you sell that matters. Liz understands the sales challenges that professionals face when selling their services in today’s competitive environment and shows them how to make a profound difference in their sales approach, language, and process —online and offline.

Whether for her one-on-one consulting, group coaching, multiple-day training, or workshops, Liz will customize programs around the specific needs, challenges, and objectives a business faces.

Liz has coached thousands of professionals to build solid business skills, develop a success mindset, exceed sales expectations, and prosper in any economy.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/

The Essentials of Conversation

by Judy Cirullo

Do you know that 90 percent of the time the person you are speaking to misses your meaning or intent? In these conversations, we talk over each other, we trigger each other, and stop listening.

When you have conversations that matter, which include the top skill of listening, engagement increases by 61 percent. In addition, highly engaged employees are almost 90 percent less likely to leave their employer. Conversations that include two-way feedback increase productivity by 2.5X, and employees who feel their voice is heard are more than four and a half times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best. All of these statistics are a result of having conversations that matter .

Would you like to see these types of results?

Conversations are the backbone of our relationships, interactions, business culture, and everyone we interact with. The most common theme I hear from my clients is that they avoid conversations that might be difficult, leading to a perpetuation of the situation as frustration, angst, and stress increase.

You are overcome by thoughts of “ if I leave it alone, it will go away,” “what if my employee quits?” “What if my family member doesn’t take it well and gets really upset?” These thoughts are what hold us back from having impactful dialogue that transforms our conversations and moves our relationships to a new level. For example, I had a client struggling with having a successful conversation with their employees. The

motivation was low, the engagement was haphazard, and they had difficulty with the retention of their key employees. Whenever she wanted to have a one-one conversation with the employees, she became stressed, anxious, and frustrated. Ultimately, she avoided these conversations, only to realize that her business culture began to deteriorate, and the team morale suffered. Sound familiar?

To help her overcome these obstacles, I introduced my 3-step approach to mastering essential conversations:.

Step 1 - Deconstruct your past conversations. Think about what happened during a previously difficult or challenging conversation. With whom, where and when? Did it occur between tasks or meetings, during lunch, end of the day, over the phone, or even by email? What made it challenging or even successful?

Step 2 - Have the conversation. Spend the first few minutes focusing on making a personal connection. Yes, personal connection, even though it is at work. Ask simple questions such as “How are you?” “How are things going?” Listen more than talk, share background information, and clarify expectations. The conversation may address a specific situation that needs attention. While sharing perspectives it is critical to include 2-way feedback.

Step 3 - Follow up. Closing the loop on these conversations is crucial. As a leader or facilitator, your integrity is on full display. Include what you both agreed to: timeline, expectations, resources needed, follow-up ensures accountability and forward movement of the performance and, thus, success. Now you’re ready for your next essential conversation!

About the Author

Judy is a seasoned business owner, a former clinician for 40 years, and a certified professional coach (CPC) for leaders and teams. Having owned and operated 4 successful businesses, she has experienced challenges and frustrations of managing people while juggling all of the responsibilities of business and personal life. Judy is a certified coach through ICF (International Coach Federation), Conversational Intelligence (C-IQ), WHY Institute, and a Founding Actuator for the Culture Fix® Academy. I blend culture transformation with impactful conversations to drive results and outcomes so owners, leaders and teams can move beyond survival mode to sustainable growth. I do this through keynote speaking, interactive workshops, individual, group and team coaching. I enjoy hiking, exploring outdoors with my husband, cooking treats for others, playing with grandkids and sharing with our entire family.

https://www.linkedin.com/ in/judycirullo/

https://growstrongteams. com/

Unlearning to Heal from Trauma

by Lisa Ford

Trauma is really just a fancy name given to an emotional wound. When we talk about our own trauma, we are saying that in some way, we have been through a situation that caused us emotional distress. It may have taken the form of anything abuse, to neglect, to abandonment, to witnessing a scary event... Sadly more often than not, this trauma has occurred in our own homes and may have been passed on from one generation to another to another. Called “intergenerational trauma”, we have learned to survive by adapting to the embedded chaos that existed in our homes and has attempted to break away from that chaos by finding our own methods of getting through. We call these “coping skills.” (Long Term Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect ( https://preventchildabuse.org/latest-activity/long-termeffects-of-child-abuse-and-neglect/ ).

But coping skills may be maladaptive, meaning they do not help us to live our best lives including addiction, self-harm, sexual promiscuity, and even criminal behavior. It is not that we intend on thriving on these behaviors, (or in many cases, repeating the same behaviors that we have seen as we grew up), it is just that we have not learned how to “unlearn” those behaviors. When we are raised in, witness or are somehow exposed to trauma, we tend to subconsciously feel comfortable in the heightened emotion that we have become accustomed to. (Mind Support -Your mental health platform - https://mindsupport.eu/en/ article/6120f30cca3d380626b36fb9 ).

So how do you unlearn such deep-seated behaviors? One of the most important steps is therapy. Therapy is the process of taking apart the pieces of our lives to understand why we have adapted to our life stressors and developed the habits of survival that we needed to get through tumultuous times in our lives. In therapy, we explore the effects, behaviors, and the core belief systems that have been established to determine whether “the coping skills” are helping us to effectively manage our life stressors, and if they are not, what we can do to change or replace those behaviors. With therapy, we can also access psychotropic medications which help to restore the balance or equilibrium of our brains, so we “get out of our heads” and stop focusing on the trauma. It is extremely important to develop a relationship with the right therapist, and if the therapist is not the right fit, to change to someone more aligned with your needs. With the right treatment, therapy will no longer feel scary, and instead be an empowering catalyst for change.

In 2021, Lisa left the field of education to support her daughter, who underwent a mental health crisis, for a position in mental health as an Outpatient Therapist.

Lisa is in the unique position to bring attention to the importance of creating mental health awareness and mental health advocacy from the perspective of a former School Counselor, trauma survivor and mother of a trauma survivor.

The Journey to Becoming a Published Author

Announcing to the world (and to yourself) that you are officially an author may, in fact, be one of the all-time most amazing, life-changing moments. It sure was for me.

I had been (sort of) trying to become an author on and off since the 4th grade. Decades later in graduate school, I floated the idea of turning my master’s thesis into a book, but I was so tired of reading the material there was no way I could have hunkered down to finish the project. Truth be told the topic was niche online dating and that book never would have held up in today’s swipe right world.

It wasn’t until I became a Powerful Women Today Mentor Expert that my dreams of becoming a published author finally came true.

With PWT, I have had the pleasure of cocreating alongside dozens of women in collaborative books, and now, my personal book Book Marketing AUTHORity is on the

verge of being published through our PWT publishing house.

The beauty of being part of a multi-author book is that you gain membership into something bigger – a mission-driven story from a chorus of voices, each chapter highlighting something different and wonderful. There is a special camaraderie that emerges from having a shared vision. If you haven’t yet been part of a collaborative book, I highly recommend it.

My goal for publishing my personal book is what some might call “my why”: to be able to help as many nonfiction and children’s book authors as possible by offering them strategies and tactics to amplify their voices and share their message with the world.

Are you ready to tell your story? Find out more about book marketing opportunities and get Your Ultimate Book Marketing Checklist at vipbookmarketing.com .

by M. Susan Patterson

In the 1970s, a “cult” was a weird, dangerous group of people who were definitely outside mainstream America. What no one seemed to grasp was... sometimes a “cult” can be right down the street.

PART ONE

High school for Sadie was a fun, happy time – a time of freedom, fun, and the expectation of a bright future. Life was full of promise, and things were only going to get better. She found her soulmate, she went to an all-girls Catholic school where even the nuns were relaxed and laid back. He lived in a great city, New Orleans, The Big Easy, so-called because life was meant to be lived easily, slow, happy, musically, and beautifully.

Sadie’s friend, Beau (short for Beauregarde Jasper Boudreax), invited her to join a garage band. Beau, Mickey, Sadie and Ace (short for Alexander Patrick Thibodeau) magically blended their voices into something mesmerizing.

They called themselves The West Banke, and they knew they had something great. Their hopes of making demos and getting local gigs were inevitable. More importantly, stars, sparks, or whatever you want to call it were practically visible when Sadie and Mickey first saw each other. From that moment, Sadie and Mickey were inseparable. They wrote music together, rode the ferry back and forth from Algiers to the Quarter, and wandered, listening to the city, listening to its heart beat and its music. Mickey was a poet, a writer, and a musician. He had a generous heart, a genuinely spiritual aura, and he was talented. Everyone knew he would be successful. And everyone knew Sadie and Mickey would be together forever.

Sadie spent her school days at the Archbishop Blenk High School for girls. When she and her friends were bored, they’d skip class and sit up on the roof and smoke. Everything was funny and easy.

Life was full of possibility. After school, she would practice with the band, then ride the ferry with Mickey. On the weekends, they’d hang out at The Flower Pot, a night club that was supposedly for kids under 21. The air was foggy with pot, the music was fantastic, and they’d stay ‘til closing. Listening to other bands sometimes inspired a music writing session with Mickey and occasionally the other guys in the band. Other times, Sadie and Mickey would walk down to the levee and lay in the grass looking at the stars. She was always late getting home. There was a window she could climb in if she was really late.

There was always some place to explore in the crescent city. You could ride the streetcars or hang out in the centuries-old cemeteries full of beautifully carved crypts. The Quarter was full of shops and fortune tellers and music. They spent a lot of time at Cafe Du Monde, drinking cafe au lait til dawn when they’d walk up to the top of the levee and watch the sun come up.

Then there was Mardi Gras – Sadie’s drill team always marched in parades. The parades that were community-oriented and attended by entire families, the grandmas and grandpas, little kids, and parents. Folks would bring their lawn chairs and food and drink and the kids would yell, “throw me something mister!” It was fun, exhausting, and wonderful all at the same time.

Mardi Gras begins on Twelfth Night and ends at Midnight on the day before Lent. Very religiously oriented. As the season built to its Fat Tuesday crescendo, Sadie and her friends loved to roam the Quarter, laughing and dancing, hooking arms, winding through the alleyways and back again into the crowd. Ace or Beau (or both) usually drank too much and had to be carried back to the ferry.

They had their life planned out. As soon as they finished high school, they were moving to an apartment in Treme. They would attend Tulane (Mickey had a fine arts scholarship) and live on the money they made playing in clubs. Since Mickey would graduate a year ahead of Sadie, he decided to work that year and save money.

That’s where things went wrong.

Mickey showed up at Sadie’s school. The halls were open air, and classrooms were all windows so as soon as Mickey drove up, Sadie saw him. She asked for a restroom pass, and went outside. She felt a terrible foreboding. Something was off. It took hours to walk down the stairs into the parking lot. He never took his eyes off Sadie.

“What is it?”

“This,” he said, and handed her a piece of paper.

The world stopped. Time stopped. They didn’t say a word, just stared into each other’s eyes watching the other one’s tears fill their eyes and fall slowly down their face. Mickey had been drafted.

In 1966, that meant one thing. Viet Nam.

Over the next month, Sadie and Mickey both lived in a haze of disbelief and fear. She tried to be encouraging but they both had a terrible sense of doom. Their plans for the future that were so certain and joyous were now at the very least delayed or worse, destroyed.

Mickey brought his guitar to Sadie’s. He didn’t have to say it. They both knew it was just in case. They told each other over and over that he was certainly coming home. The war would probably be over in a few months. Things would be okay.

After boot camp, Mickey came home on leave. His mom and dad acted so proud of him, like he was already a hero. Sadie and Mickey talked about going to Canada. They counted their money and tried to figure out where they could go and how they’d survive. Finally, Mickey said he couldn’t do that to his dad. They played one last gig at The Flower Pot, walked slowly through the Quarter, and rode the ferry home. They laid in the grass and watched the lights on the river. As dawn broke, Mickey walked Sadie

home. He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly.

“I love you forever.”

“I love you longer,” she replied.

She stood on the porch and watched him walk down the street. On the corner, under a street light, he turned and blew a kiss.

Sadie wrote to Mickey every day. His letters usually arrived two or three at a time with weeks in between. She read his words and his mind, both trying to be upbeat while a dark foreboding grew and grew like a storm on the horizon.

One of Sadie’s assignments in Lit class was to find a poem from a poet she was unfamiliar with. She halfheartedly searched through a few books in the library but found nothing remotely interesting. Then she found Sylvia Plath. She picked up Ariel, and it fell open to “Daddy.” The comparison to Nazis and the Holocaust was intense, and Sadie was trying to avoid thinking about war. Continuing her interminable and seemingly fruitless search, she discovered Auden. Sadie was drawn inexplicably to “Funeral Blues.” Lost in her own thoughts, she tore the page out of the book and put it in her pocket.

Six months later, a yellow cab drove up to Mickey’s parents’ house. His mom was home alone, and the taxi driver handed a telegram to her. She stared at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but just shook his head. He turned and went back to the cab and drove away. She read the telegram and slid to the floor in the doorway.

Across the street, Beau watched in stunned silence. He didn’t have to ask what happened, it happened every day to somebody. He ran down the street and banged on Sadie’s door.

“You gotta come. Now.”

And Sadie ran down the street after Beau.

They found Mickey’s mom still on the floor sobbing and shaking. They picked her up and took her to the couch in the living room. Sadie grabbed the telegram. Her knees buckled. The room spun round.

No, no, no, no.

Only Sadie couldn’t cry, she could only focus on trying to keep breathing. She was suddenly wretchedly hollow, her insides sucked out by a terrible force, leaving her empty and lifeless.

Would you like to place an ad in our upcoming Spring magazine? Contact

At the precipice of incredibly cool sh**... that’s where I like to find myself. Whether it’s hiking to the summit of a peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains or attracting powerful, amazing clients that are doing cool things in the world, standing on that precipice is a joy that makes my heart smile. Partnering with Powerful Women Today Magazine in the role of Creative Director for this magazine is an honor, a joy, and a privilege.

Throughout these pages are incredible stories, beautiful training, opportunities to connect, and much more.

Pairing wonderful content with fantastically rich images has made this project incredibly rewarding.

The powerhouse collaboration with Carolina M. Billings, the Publisher of this magazine, and Melanie Herschorn, the Editor, on this amazing project and seeing it come to fruition is something that holds a very special spot in my heart.

I’ve always dreamed of being part of a beautiful magazine project and now I can put a check mark in that column of my goals!

Hugs, Love, and t. Rex always,

Dortha a.k.a. Rexie (you’ll hear more about that soon enough)

Essential Tips for Couples Planning a Destination Wedding

Destination weddings can truly be customized to your liking. Your special day can be intimate, extravagant, or even off the resort. The possibilities are endless. Here are 6 essential tips to ensure your destination wedding is the event of your dreams.

Do your homework:

Choosing a destination can feel overwhelming for many couples so one of the best ways to overcome that feeling is to do your research and narrow down your selection to 3 destinations. This will help your travel consultant get a feel for your preference. Remember, too, this is just your starting point. Our agent will be able to help with the process of making a final decision.

Keep your guests together:

Couples will often commission a travel consultant to assist with planning their guests’ flights and accommodations. It is a good idea to encourage guests to book with your agent. When a guest books outside of the group, if any issues arise the agent will not be able to assist them. That’s why booking together will eliminate a lot of discrepancies. There are also certain criteria that must be met in order for a group to be considered a group.

Select the right vendors:

Choosing the right vendors is a task within itself. This is where your travel consultant’s knowledge will be extremely valuable. Your consultant will have a list of trusted vendors they work with frequently, as well as access to local talent at a great price point. Try to arrive a few days early to meet your vendors if it is not possible to visit vendors at least 4 months in advance.

Make a Realistic Budget:

It’s important to be transparent with your planner on what your budget is. This, alone, can save couples a lot of stress and anxiety.

Let your planner know what your must-haves and non-negotiables are. Your planner will be able to provide alternatives for those areas of compromise too, such as florals or guest count.

Go with the flow:

Destination weddings require couples to exhibit a lot of patience. Sometimes language barriers, time zones, or the overall work style of the particular destination might have you on edge. Because many weddings were postponed due to the pandemic, it may take more time than usual to receive quotes from suppliers or vendors l. Don’t allow these minor setbacks to deter you. Your planner and travel consultant are pros who know how to navigate these situations.

Maximize your experience:

Planning a destination wedding has many unique challenges, so why not make the most of it? Unlike a local wedding in which you have one night of celebration, destination weddings are nonstop festivities. Plan activities and excursions, utilize the resort, and host a welcome or send-off dinner to extend the party. Many couples also choose to have their wedding trip include their honeymoon.

For even more destination wedding inspiration, follow Stephaney Campbell on Instagram at: inspired_weddingsinc or email hello@inspiredweddings.ca for more tips or enquiries.

n TOO CGOL Become a Coach

How big is the coaching market?

1. By 2022, the coaching industry's market reached $20 billion. ICF Global Coaching reports that the coaching industry is the second-fastest growing sector in the world. Experts predict this will grow with an average yearly growth rate of 6.7%. This trend is proven since, in 2019, the coaching market size was estimated at $15B. About half, $7.5B, of that market value was within the United States.

2. Forbes identified the top three trends in Coaching

• Women Empowerment Coaching

• Employee Satisfaction Coaching

• Sales Coaching

However not all coach training is created equal. Qualifcation of coaches

� Quality of coaching varies greatly too.

The Coaching Industry Market Size & Insights for 2023

by Mindy McManus

Coaching is a profession that is not regulated by the government. Anyone can take a one-week class and say they are a coach. Therefore, when seeking out a good, qualified coach, it is important to look for a few key items to ensure that your coach has gone through a rigorous training and examination. Coaching takes time and practice to grow into your coaching skills.

When I am looking to refer a client to another coach, I check to see how many hours of training they received and if they are accredited from a reputable coaching accreditation source. How will you know? You can ask or you can look for a Credly badge from their coaching institution or from the accredited body from which they received their certification. For instance, I chose to become certified through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I selected ICF because that is the accreditation body my job required at a prominent healthcare system at the time.

ICF offers three tracks for certified coaches. The first path is the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) is 60-plushours of training and 100-plus hours of paid coaching. The second path is the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) is 125-plus hours of training and 500plus hours of paid coaching hours. The third path, which is the one that I am working toward now, is the Master Certified Trainer (MCC)is 200-plus training and 2500-plus paid coaching hours.

Becoming a certified coach is one of the best things that I could have done for my career. It helped me to deepen my coaching skills so that I can better serve my clients. When it comes to coaching, we can always get better. It takes a lifelong learning mentality and the need, want, and desire to serve others. I am

proud to be a part of PWT’s coaching academy where we help to elevate the coaching world with qualified and certified ICF coaches.

Connect with Mindy: https://www.linkedin. com/in/mindymcmanus/

About the Author

Mindy’s Executive Coaching, LLC is about developing a creative partnership with clients capitalizing on their potential igniting creativity, leadership, passion, and drive. My passion is around executive coaching and leadership consulting with leaders and their leadership teams to improve their leadership capabilities to achieve professional, team, organizational, and personal goals. My niche is developing diverse physician leaders. Assisting clients to harness their greatness and discovering unrealized talents.

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