Dear Women and Biz Reader,We hope you join us in celebrating our one year anniversary, and that this issue of Women & Biz helps you stop to think about your business and where you are today. It might be a good idea to take time to celebrate each of your accomplishments and start to plan for the future. The seventh issue brings inspiring articles from our contributors and guest writers, and updates from entrepreneurs we interviewed this year. It also features a very successful business owner – Carolyn Gable, founder of New Age Transportation, Distribution & Warehousing Inc.
Thank you to all entrepreneurs for the updates, interviews and wonderful articles,
and thank you to our readers for your positive feedback.  Enjoy your reading and all the best to you and your business.Cheers,

After moving, I worked for two years in jobs that I had taken, first to get me to New York, and, second, to keep me going. Then, I was laid off. I started looking for work, only to find out that potential employers were happy to offer me positions but at salaries that were insulting, given my experience.

I was at a crossroads. I decided to go into business as a communications consultant. I determined that I would rather be self-employed than be underpaid by someone else. It was a big decision; one that I will never regret. It has given me freedom and flexibility, allowing me to be more creative. But it has also given me many sleepless nights — the ebb and flow of business can be daunting.

Over the years, I have revised my original vision. I have a diverse clientele but have narrowed my target market, specializing in several niche areas. Several years ago, I made a leap of faith. I decided to try and transfer my skills to a field, which is my passion — film.

Throughout my more than 20-year career, I’ve held a variety of positions in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors — working on Capitol Hill and in city government, serving as communications director in nonprofits and the arts, helping to run a family-owned business, starting up and running a nonprofit. But I had always made choices based on what I needed to do rather than what I wanted to do.

My career choices were grounded in personal commitments or on the fact that I needed a job. For the first time in my working life, I decided to pursue work in a field that I love. I haven’t given up on my “day job” — my regular clients. But I have focused a great deal of my learning and networking energies on the independent film scene.

What does my story have to do with “What to Do When You Reach a Milestone?” Several things.

A career milestone can be positive (promotion, new job, new business) or negative (firing, layoff, losing clients). In addition, our work or business life is affected by real life milestones (marriage, children, divorce, illness, death of a parent).

In Hamlet, Polonius advised his son, “This above all: to thine own self be true…” This credo should be your guide.

It is essential that you know yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your best skills? Worse skills? What are your passions? What do you love to do? What do you hate to do?

Ever wonder why people suddenly give up a long-time career to do something completely different? Often, it’s because they discover that what they’re doing does not speak to who they are.

We’re all a work in progress.

Use each milestone to review where you’ve been and where you’re going. A dead end job, firing, layoff, or lost client may not be the disaster it seems. Although it’s often hard in the heat of the moment, try and look at a negative milestone as an opportunity to stop and re-evaluate, so you proceed in a way that serves your essence. Even a positive milestone — a new job or business venture — is a good time to check out whether your priorities reflect who you are.

We live in difficult times. All of us will have to make choices that won’t totally lead us to what we think will make us happy. However, by knowing who you are and what skills and fields affirm your core values and interests, you will be able to use each milestone to make better decisions not only today, but also in the future.

But, how can Suzy SmallBiz, reduce the possibility of mistakes – even little ones? For starters, when embarking on any new technology project, the first order of business – after outlining the actual project plan, of course – is setting milestones.

A milestone is simply a significant point in the development or implementation of a project. Or, more simply, a way of telling how close or, how far, you are from completion. If you can’t measure your progress, how do you know where you are or where you’re headed? The addition of milestones makes your technology project plan complete. After all, a to-do without a deadline doesn’t get done!

But, how does Suzy SmallBiz select and insert critical milestones into her plan? To better illustrate this concept, let’s take a sample project and add milestones, keeping in mind, that it’s not what should be done but, rather when.

While the types of milestones will change with each technology project, regularly scheduled check-in intervals won’t.

Let’s say Suzy’s technology project will take 16 weeks to implement (not at all abnormal for technology projects). Her milestones – or check-ins – should be set at weeks # 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 14 and 16.

You will notice that there are more check-ins set at the outset of Suzy’s project as compared to the end of the project. This is because technology projects are very different from other types of projects. For far too many reasons than I have space to examine, it is a lot easier and cheaper to re-route a technology project at the beginning, than at the end – or even mid-stream. Therefore, a rule of thumb is to micro-manage technology projects at the beginning and macro-manage toward completion.

If it makes you more comfortable attaching this-is-what-the-project-should-look-like-by-this-time addendums to each of your milestones, please do so – it can only help. However, you’ll find that the real value comes from actually scheduling the time to check-in on your project.

“The opposite of networking is not working”—you can learn from everyone you meet and also be a resource to them. If you are lucky, down the road something may come back.

1. Is networking just about finding customers and growing one’s business?
Networking is all about developing and building relationships first. When this happens with hard work and sincerity, customers will come. It’s like a garden. When you meet new people for the first time, it’s like planting a seed. When you stay in touch by meeting for coffee or sending a holiday card, it’s like watering the seeds. Finally when there is a genuine reason for you to have a closer working relationship or friendship, it’s like the harvest. Remember we can plant and we can water—however the growth is a natural and organic process. You cannot rush it. One needs to think win/win and patience. I look at each connection I make as how I can help or refer that person. The biggest joy is when I put someone in touch with someone else and they do business together. Three of my major corporate clients took over three years to develop-lots of staying in touch, patience and finally an opportunity to work on an assignment. Each has turned into multiple referrals within the organization. The goal is stay in front of people, to be on their radar screen as a thank you. I do this with my electronic tips of the month, my quarterly newsletter and a variety of articles.

2. What has been the biggest “negative” that I have heard about networking?
The top complaint that came from a national survey that my company did was about people who act like they are trying to sell you something-right when they meet you. They pounce on you and tell you only about themselves and don’t have any interest in you. Another complaint is about people who lose interest if they don’t think you can help them—the people who figure they only need to “network” when they NEED a job or business. The key is always to give first. Be a resource-go through your database and think how you can help the other person. Every day, get in touch with three people just to say hello. I do this systematically. It could be as simple as sending an article including a note saying “I haven’t spoken to you in a while, and thought you might be interested in this.” Or let them know about an event they might enjoy, or congratulate them on a recent accomplishment. Keep it sincere, short and make it about them—not about you.

3. Is networking costly in terms of time?
Networking the way I look at it, is part of everyday life. Think of your current business or company—how can you connect with each person, vendor, or client and then plant seeds so that you get referrals. Ask questions, show interest and ask about things that are of interest to them. The “time” that you invest will be paid back many times over as you are developing and building relationships. Think of the associations you belong to and make the time that you go to these meetings and functions work for you. Get involved: work on committees and meet and develop new contacts throughout the year.

4. What are some things you can do to become more visible in your community?
Offer to speak at a local organization meeting. You might also offer to do a free mini seminar on your specialty in business. Write articles and publish your own newsletter, which you will send to your master file and also to a prospect list and database that you continually are developing and building. On the market, there are many pre-produced marketing pieces that can be created and customized with your name and contact information. Just be sure to always sign it yourself and if possible add something personal. For me, the newsletter is a “piece of gold”. I send out 2,500 copies quarterly and I always personalize each one—it can be as simple as: “Hi, Lisa, hope you’re great! Andrea.”

5. What are the five great keys to building your business through networking?

* Meet people and nurture your current network.
* Listen and learn from everyone you meet. We learn more by listening then talking, which is why we have two ears and one mouth. Also—we can learn from those we do not like—we learn how not to be. When you listen—you also learn what people need and how to be a resource and give to them.
* Make connections for others—find ways to connect other people together. I say 1+1=3. People will remember who made the original connection.
* Follow up—this is critical and the one thing most people forget to do. Under promise and over deliver. Do what you say and do it in a timely fashion. A wonderful quote I live by: “Give without remembering, and receive without forgetting.”
* Find creative ways to follow up— There is always an opportunity to stay on people’s radar screen with an article, note, something of interest to them—even remembering their birthday.

Remember this:

N Remember people’s Names and Nurture your Network
E Have good Eye contact, Empathy and know when to Exit
T Talk less, listen more—think, Trust, and Timing is everything
W Write personal notes to people and remember this is Work!
O Every time you meet someone is an Opportunity to learn and be Organized
R Reputation, Relationships, Reflection, Rapport, Results
K Knowledge is power with execution, Kindness pays!
I Be Interested in others, Integrity is key, take the Initiative
N Sometimes you have to say No
G Goals, Gratitude, be Generous with your time

The first year of publishing a magazine — like the first year of any business — presents an extraordinary challenge. It is a mixed bag of experiences. It demands a wide range of problem solving skills to reach a first milestone such as this. On the one hand, it is exhilarating to know the idea works. The magazine is reaching and helping women. On the other hand, there are always problems to solve, techniques to learn, corrections to make and planning to complete.

Hats off to Elisa and the entire staff for persevering, growing, being more and more responsive to the needs of subscribers and for having some fun while it is all happening. This success leads all of us to ask an important question: What can we learn from their example? We can learn a lot. Specifically:

Slow down. The temptation is to move too quickly into the next level of expansion, without taking time to look back or look forward. There are questions to be answered about every business move. Does this move serve our mission? Does it serve our customers? What is the time-line for it to succeed? Can we afford it? Have we considered other moves that might be more effective at this point in time? The task for every small business owner is to control the temptation to rush to the next level. The more important task is to take time to plan.

Planning is essential. Without a plan and a goal, we would have no way of celebrating our successes, because we wouldn’t know when we have succeeded. We will need to determine measurable goals and establish benchmarks. This demands that we:

1. Research and develop a plan;
2. Set realistic goals with realistic timetables;
3. Plan to celebrate the success when the goal is reached; and,
4. Create a new plan with realistic goals and realistic timetables to start the cycle over again.

Recognize your success on several levels. Specifically:

1. Remember that your success didn’t just “happen”. Remember the many small victories it took to get to this point and congratulate yourself for a job well done. Give yourself credit for all the effort you and your team put into the accomplishment. Reward yourself with time off or give yourself something special to make your job easier. This gift could range all the way from the new organizer you have been wanting to a simple paper weight that will remind you that you did complete what you set out to accomplish.
2. Give a reward to everyone who helped you reach this goal. Keep in mind that rewards can take many forms and they don’t have to break the company bank account. A note of thanks goes a long way. Or, consider celebrating with lunch, appetizers or a congratulatory cake for the whole team to celebrate together and appreciate one another.

Keep your eye on your customer. Your customer is always the source of your success. It’s important to remember that customers’ needs may change quickly or slowly over a period of time. In either case, it’s your responsibility to keep in touch with those changing needs so you can be responsive. In short, customer service is the basis of all of your planning. You can keep in touch through a number of methods:

1. Ask for feedback and listen to customer comments whenever you are in personal or phone contact with your clients or customers.
2. Build in opportunity for customers to contact you through your website, phone, fax or mail information provided on bills, mailings, e-letters, or direct mail or phone campaigns.
3. Establish traditions of holding report meetings, conferences, holiday or general celebrations or other events as a way of thanking customers for their support. These can be one-on-one get-togethers or large- or small-group gatherings, depending upon your preference and upon what you think will work best for your invitees.

Continue to work hard. Remind yourself that every successful business requires effort, commitment, creative energy and a deep belief in the product or service being offered. As Theodore Roosevelt so wisely said: “Far and away, the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work that is worth doing”. As the owner of your own business, you have already been awarded that prize. Keep it going.

Change is a constant and an essential catalyst for reinventing our selves, our lives, and our work. Change also evokes different emotions in people. It can be scary or highly enlightening, eagerly anticipated or avoided at all costs. Change usually takes courage and tenacity, especially when there is no guarantee of success. But it’s when we don’t move with change that problems can occur and too much change at a too constant pace can create a mass of instability. No matter how stressful or overwhelming the situation may initially present itself, the key to coping successfully is to find a workable middle ground then pulling out all distractions until all you have is the core to concentrate on.

In my long experience as a teacher, consultant, and coach, I have found that many people yearn for change, but only if things stay basically the same or else they have unrealistic expectations about who and what they want to become. Some individuals undergo drastic lifestyle and image changes only to find that they still have the same problems that they had before.

Seeing yourself as others see you can be either a very positive or a rather sobering learning experience. Being who you really are from the inside out by developing your own personal style—which includes the physical and psychological aspects of image–can be an extremely empowering tool in dealing with life and work. It lends clout to every situation and helps to focus and define your goals along with creating a smoother path to personal and career success.

Reinventing oneself is much easier and less daunting than it may initially appear. Start by igniting your imagination again. Do some active daydreaming. This is also an excellent remedy for getting through those rough spots. Make a realistic list of what your ‘ideal’ consists of— for example—your career or business, your image, or how you want to spend your down time. Then, and this is the best way to begin your transformation, clean out all the clutter in your life—your closets, drawers, bookshelves, bathroom, office, everything…or anyone. Get all your papers in order, simplify wherever you can, and be merciless. This is your life that you’re improving! It’s quite amazing how taking stock can both enlighten and inspire. Changing your surroundings, no matter how trivial the change, can be a motivating force when you feel the positive effects. No matter how heavy your schedule or obligations, it is important to give yourself moments where it’s all about you without feeling guilty or selfish. Don’t wait for a ‘special’ occasion to celebrate. This purging process will actually buy you time as well as peace of mind. It might just be the antidote—if you can’t change it, change the way you look at it–and it doesn’t cost a thing.

After you get yourself organized you can focus on a few important questions such as: Are you feeling under-appreciated? Frustrated? In a time warp? Lacking direction? Plain fed up? Bored? Most importantly–Are you getting what you want when you want it?

Knowing what needs to be changed and remaining focused can simplify the reinvention process. Avoid becoming overwhelmed. Start with small changes—it’s the little things that make the biggest difference over time and cause the least amount of friction. It may also help to know that even key executives, huge corporations, and A-List celebrities need to reinvent themselves from time to time to stay on top.

It may be as simple as an attitude adjustment, a different route to work, or learning to delegate chores. You may be considering a career transition, starting a business, or a major lifestyle move. The key to successful reinvention is to be true to yourself and keep your eye on your prize. You must also know the difference between what is real and what you just made up. As mere mortals, we have a tendency to make up scenarios in our dramatic minds about how episodes in our lives will play out. Usually these scenarios are not accurate and generate much anxiety and time-wasting activity. Deal with what’s real and don’t sweat the rest. Here are a few other basic starting tips to help get you where you’re going:

–When in doubt…ask questions! Don’t pretend you know something when you don’t. Even If you find out that someone has expressed a negative view about you ask the person why and if you get a positive assessment, thank her and ask why, too! Courage and humility are very liberating qualities.

–Use charm and sincerity. Be aware of whhat the other person is saying and doing. Get them to talk. Offer advice and solutions. Learn to give compliments. You’d be surprised how much clout you can gain from listening to people— from difficult family members to indifferent sales people– including those all-imposing gatekeepers. This is a great strategy for career transitions and getting back favors when you really need them.

–Keep on track! Don’t listen to just anyyone when it comes to your goals and dreams. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Take negativity with a grain of salt and be careful with whom you choose to discuss your plans.

–If it’s not that important or doesn’t ffeel right, pass it over. Set your priorities based on your ideal. Saying no will get you a long way.

–Do your homework! Get the resources youu need to be successful on your journey. Networking and partnering with others that have the expertise that you lack can also be a helpful steppingstone. Consider hiring a coach or finding a mentor. Always be aware of your competitors and learn from them.

–Your image speaks volumes. What is yourrs saying about you? First impressions can make or break an important personal or business opportunity. Your personal style reflects off of everything and everyone you encounter. Is your first impression a powerful and memorable one?

–“It’s not what you say, but how you sayy it!’ Enough said. Period.

Using change as a vehicle to reinvent our selves, our lives, and our businesses is like getting a jump-start on the process. Whatever the reason, remember that it is a process and takes time—like losing weight or quitting smoking. It is also a journey of self-discovery. Like any important change, there may be moments of doubt, backsliding, and even anxiety. But there will also be moments of exhilaration, self-satisfaction, and sheer joy. Time is a valuable commodity simply because it passes and moves us forward, often before we realize it, to another place. It’s who we are more than what we do in that place that really matters. Having a strong sense of self is like a magnet for opportunity. And patience really is a virtue.

Give yourself some down time to re-focus, even if it’s just a walk around the block. Take the time to observe your environment and try slowing down just a notch. You might be amazed at what…and whom… you discover along the way.

But a funny thing has started to happen just this year — the “seven year itch,” I suppose. My kids are getting older and are spending a lot more time at school and with their friends. Simultaneously, I have finally defined my coaching niche (after working with all sorts of clients for many years), and I have also developed an extensive community of professional colleagues in lots of different but related fields. While my children’s needs are becoming less and less “hands on,” my coaching business feels extremely ripe for growth and development. But if I take my business to the next level, I will most likely lose my flexibility and — more importantly — the closeness to my children and their everyday ups and downs. This kind of trade-off feels costly and echoes the feelings of many modern women trying to “have it all.”

In the many books that I’ve read about personal development and growth, most say that true expansion of oneself is often prefaced by a symbolic death of one’s old self. The books add that you must acknowledge this shift and allow space for the uneasy transition or else risk getting stuck in it, clinging hard to a past that you’ve outgrown. Indeed, many of my coaching clients are in this very place which I’ve come to call “the prison cell of the known.” Their life circumstances feel familiar and comfortable yet also limiting because they can’t seem to stretch out to realize new vistas. I have come to enjoy coaching people out of their comfort zone because I can see that the outcomes on the other end are so worthwhile, perhaps in part because the growth process itself is so strenuous. As fitness trainers say, “No pain, no gain.”

But what about me and this seven year itch? What’s on the horizon for me? Why is it so much easier to coach others than myself? I do know that one big lesson I’ve learned from parenting is to let go of control, because just when I think one of my children’s problems is going to last forever, it disappears. So as I journey to complete my first book and work on branding myself and my new web site, will I be abandoning my children? Or modeling for them what joyful work looks like? Will increased business create financial resources that will allow for more exciting opportunities for me and my family? Will I come to see that the best thing I could do was provide an early safe and nurturing environment and that at some inevitable point I would have to let them fly on their own? I do not know the answers to all of these questions, but I do know that growing my business feels right to me but not easy all the same.

What about you? Are you stuck? Do you resist growth? Do you always look for a safety net? Be sure to check out www.SurpassYourDreams.com, www.ChangingCourse.com, and of course, www.PersephoneZill.com for resources on taking your life to the next level. Here’s to reaching new heights!

Have a great fall,
Persephone Zill

• Marian Banker – Prime Strategies
• Amy Cole and Lisa Cole – Acquaint New York
• Jackie Gordon – Divalicious, Inc.
• Bridgette Raes – Bridgette Raes Style Group
• Justine Reichman – Career Change Network

Marian Banker Prime StrategiesLearn more about Marian Banker Prime Strategies Issue V

Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why?“I’m focusing even more on local events that will bring together small business leaders in the metropolitan NYC area. In addition to my monthly Brain Exchange Roundtable where we share expertise, experience, ideas and resources, I’m running another Business Goal Roundtable where each member receives coaching and peer support to help achieve their most critical business goal before year end. I’ve learned that small business people gain so much from this type of peer interaction that I want to continue to expand on this format.”Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business?“The goals for my business haven’t changed. My goals will be achieved primarily through the help of carefully selected strategic alliances. These alliances support me predominantly in the areas of marketing and technology. I will also continue to utilize my “advisory board” as a consulting group and resource to help me sort through the maze of options and make the right choices.”

Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why? “Our business has maintained its personalized networking on behalf of young professionals but is has now grown in our 3rd year to also aid corporations. After networking with our personal and business circles on behalf of talented women, companies were calling us back requesting other candidates for other job openings. This of course was a compliment and allowed us to service corporations as well. We didn’t intend to move in the direction of recruiters but we were asked and able to fill their voids so that aspect of our business has grown. It has also enhanced our revenue a great deal. We partner with corporations in their searches and should they hire an Acquaint New York gal we charge 20% of the annual salary. It is a bit lower than market rate but we feel we are benefiting both parties and feel blessed to have corporations adding to our revenue streams. “Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business? “Yes, although our mission is still and always will be to personally assist women in NYC and educate them to the ways of this town, we have changed our focus. We are concentrating less on aiding women in their housing searches and rather are educating them more in their professional and career endeavors. We have grown our career consulting services to include: resume writing, cover letters and follow up correspondence, interviewing techniques and strategies to job hunting. We are still partnering with colleges and speaking on campuses nationwide. At these engagements we educate seniors on the costs and realities of living in New York City as well as the no nonsense approach to personal business and social networking. It is at these events that I realize the need to keep our business personal. We offer a safe haven for young professionals to explore industries, job options and ask any questions they have. I value the personal edge of our company and pray our approach to recruiting maintains this personal angle as well. Since many of the corporations we are servicing are people Lisa and I had worked with during our 14 years in the fashion industry, I can confidently say that I KNOW them, their working environments and their needs in employees. “

Lisa Cole and Amy Cole Acquaint New YorkLearn more about Amy and Lisa ColeAcquaint New York Issue IV

Jackie Gordon Divalicious Inc.Learn more about Jackie Gordon Divalicious Inc. Issue IV

Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why? “Yes, my business has changed. I had a lot of exposure with my first New York show sayCHEESE! debuted in April 2004. I got a lot of hits on my website and added new people to my mailing list. Now, I am expanding my consulting/events business to include an e-commerce site where I’m launching two new businesses under the Divalicious umbrella: Divalicious Chocolate Fountain Rentals (up now at chocolatefountainnyc.com and divalicious.biz) and RECI-TEES by Divalicious (Available by October 1st through reci-tees.com and divalicious.biz). By diversifying my product range I can gain greater exposure in multiple markets. I am going to be participating in my first business to business trade show in October at the BiZ Bash Event Styles show and a business to consumer Chocolate show in November. I have been hosting a monthly cable TV show in Brooklyn, Neighborhood Beat BoCoCa, that gives me regular TV exposure, increases my networking ability and will hopefully lead to getting a cooking show on Food TV in the near future.” I have been presenting workshops at conferences as a way to build my brand and network nationally. I have been to Baltimore and Minneapolis this year and will be in Dallas and Oxford, England next year.”Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business? “My business goals have not changed. Gain Exposure! I am managing to stay on the track of exposing and building my brand and taking advantages of opportunities that come up. I am on my way to building a base income for my business so my consultative services will be able to thrive and I will be able to attract investors and sponsors for my “eatertainment” shows. I am lucky to have a marketing and sales consultant helping me launch my products. I think it’s important to find people who have complimentary skills. It’s all good!”

Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why? “Since December 2003 Bridgette Raes Style Group business has really boomed. Bridgette Raes Style Group celebrates its two-year anniversary in September and sometimes I am still shocked at all I have accomplished with this business. Our private client base has exploded, our newsletter subscriber base has more than quadrupled, I have contributed frequently to many publications including Woman’s World Magazine as an image and style expert and the company’s exposure has increased. Believe it or not I think the majority of the company’s growth came from saying no and setting boundaries. When I first started the business I said yes to every networking opportunity, business relationship and exposure opportunity that came my way sort of with a desperate mental attitude that if I didn’t expose the company just about everywhere I could I wouldn’t be successful. As a result I found myself attracting the wrong clients and wasting a lot of time spinning my wheels. It only took a few disappointing experiences to help me realize quickly that the service I provided was a luxury service and not suitable for everyone. I think that if I can offer any advice it would be to be very clear on exactly who and what types of opportunities you are trying to attract to grow your business and trust that when you make decisions from that standpoint it will pay off. Desperation is the world’s worst perfume; it doesn’t attract anyone or anything! ” Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business? “The goals of the business have pretty much stayed the same only now I am focused more efforts on utilizing my talents in the media. I am in the process of a book deal, and have some possible talk show spots coming up for the fall. I think I will always want to work with a private client base however I would like to balance it with some media work, hire on some other consultants to manage the overflow of clients that I am unable to work with and finally hire a much needed assistant!”

Bridgette Raes Bridgette Raes Style GroupLearn more about Bridgette Raes Bridgette Raes Style Group Issue III

Justine Reichman Career Change NetworkLearn more about Justine Reichman Career Change Network Issue III

Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why?According to Justine Reichman, her business has changed since our interview in December 2003. Her company is offering multiple events, including corporate events, such as the financial seminar series. She is also giving workshops at NYU and Pace University, and she is offering one-on-one consultations for her members and clients. Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business? Justine Reichman is focusing in growing her business outside New York City. In October she will be offering her first teleconference and it will be hosted in California. She points out that she wants to personally meet and train the coordinators of events in other cities to maintain its quality and to continue strengthening her brand. In order to grow the business, Career Change Network is also offering free membership.

Not having gone to college never stopped Carolyn Gable from thriving in her life and business. She opted to become a beautician and worked as a waitress for 15 years before lending a job in the trucking industry. She mentioned that her people skills came in handy to provide the best customer service, and she soon became a sales representative. The owner of the third company she worked for in the freight business encouraged her to work on commission. In 1989, Carolyn Gable found New Age Transportation in the basement of her home, as an independent commission representative for trucking companies.

Even though trucking was a mainly male dominated industry, and many people were skeptical she could succeed, Carolyn Gable kept going and realized her clients were happy to deal with a woman, and were pleased with the quality of services she was providing. It didn’t take long for her to move out of the basement into a bigger location, and the business has continued to grow since.

New Age Transportation has had tough times when it lost one of its major accounts. Carolyn Gable made the decision to regroup, renew and change the business in order to survive. The company restructured and became a broker, handling all the logistics of transportation, distribution and warehousing. The move definitely paid off, and in 1995, they won a major account with Time Warner and their revenue doubled. Today Carolyn Gable’s company is known as New Age Transportation, Distribution & Warehousing Inc. and has offices in Lake Zurich, a warehouse in Elk Grove Village, IL and is preparing to move into its own 800,000+ SF warehouse. Carolyn is already looking into buying 10 additional acres of warehouse space, as she knows the new one will be filled quickly. She notices that it is crucial to plan ahead, and she studies her business and the market, forecasting 6 months to 3 years in advance.

One of Carolyn’s main challenges is finding motivated individuals who share the company’s vision, care about the clients and understand the importance of their jobs. Maybe that is why the company’s management team brought up the issue that workers should not be sitting still longer than two hours, and they came up with the idea to have an energy break, and “Dancing Away Office Stress” was created. It is a fun concept in which everyone participates. Even people who are in a meeting with Carolyn may take a break to dance, and overall it increases the workers’ moral and productivity.

Carolyn Gable cares so much about her workers as well as her clients, and family, although finding balance is a challenge. After winning the Time Warner account, Carolyn immediately started thinking about how she could give back to the community and help others. She is a single mother and understands first hand the challenges and difficulties single parents face by not being part of the system, and often with no benefits. Single working parents who can’t afford to pay for extra curricular activities, such as dance, karate, after school programs, tutoring and a lot more, have an option. Carolyn created the “Expect a Miracle” foundation to help children of single parents enjoy life, and achieve their full potential. It is a great project and kids and parents show their appreciation by sending beautiful notes and pictures that show how Expect a Miracle has helped their lives. Carolyn Gable
Carolyn Gable

”God let me be the best that I can be today. I don’t know where he wants me to go, but wherever it is, I’m going.”

Carolyn Gable shares that she does not believe someone can be in business and not be spiritual, and believes that one must take a leap of faith when things seem to go wrong and know that better times are yet to come. She also advises entrepreneurs to have a purpose for their businesses and to think about whether they’re in business to make money, save the world, or a combination of both. Carolyn argues that the purpose should not be solely making money, or the business will not get very far.

Carolyn learned and grew from every challenge and milestone, and she recommends that entrepreneurs focus and listen to their inner voices. In the beginning, when things got tough, Carolyn Gable considered going back to what she was most familiar with, but she realized it was just the “darkness before the light”. Carolyn recommends that entrepreneurs pay attention to their own thoughts and how badly they really want their businesses to succeed and always keep going.

To learn more about Carolyn Gable, her business and her foundation, visit http://www.newagetransportation.comand www.expectamiraclefoundation.org.