Women Business Owners (WBO) will be hosting a monthly networking group on the second Friday of each month at 9am for all women business owners in the Houston and surrounding areas.

The first networking meeting will be held on Friday, November 9th at the local Starbucks location on 1960W near 249N in the Willow Brook Commons Strip Center. Starbucks is located next to the Chipotle Mexican Grill and across from Willow Brook Mall and Chase Bank.

All interested networkers should arrive with business cards and marketing materials in hand to distribute to fellow women business owners. There is no charge for the networking group and only a few rules apply!

Each networker will have 60 seconds to introduce herself and her business. Then we will go around and each networker will have the opportunity to offer referrals to those who are interested in her services or products, or to those who may know someone who would benefit from the services or products.

Join us and grow your business!

Contact information: Anna Campbell (713) 516-1524 or anna@womenbizowners.org.

So often, we get busy with our day to day lives and don’t step back to look at the big picture. Are you enjoying life? Or does life feel like a struggle? Do you wake each day thinking, “Today I have to…”" or do you wake thinking, “Today I get to…” There is a big difference.

I recently coached a client most people would describe as successful. Married with two children, Christina* worked as a registered nurse supervisor. She lives in a nice neighborhood, drives a late model SUV, and recently traveled to Hawaii with her family.

But, Christina felt unhappy. She did not enjoy her work anymore. She liked her co- workers and she received plenty of recognition for her efforts at work. But, she felt something missing.

Christina’s job was the end result of a series of choices Christina made over the last fifteen years. When faced with an opportunity, Christina always made the most “sensible” choice. Her series of sensible choices landed her in an “okay” job and an “okay” life.

But, many days, she came home feeling depleted. Her job drained her energy. Some days, she did not want to go to work. Many days, she had a gnawing voice telling her something was missing from her life. Many days, she woke up thinking, “Today, I have to…”

When Christina came to coaching, we had an honest conversation about what Christina really wanted. What a powerful conversation! For the first time in years, Christina gave herself permission to dream. Although she liked being a nurse, it was not her first career choice. Highly creative, with an entrepreneurial spirit, Christina felt boxed in by the structure of her job. She really wanted to start her own business.

For the first time in her life, Christina made a choice many might consider to be “un-sensible.” Christina decided to start her own business as a wedding planner.

Christina did not do this hastily. She spent months learning about business, researching the market in her area, talking to other small business owners and developing a solid back-up plan in case her business failed. She did all of this while she continued to work in her nursing job. In the process, something amazing happened!

In spite of taking on even more work as she developed her business and worked full-time, Christina felt excited and energized. She woke up each morning looking forward to the day ahead. Maybe that day she would have lunch with another business owner. Or, maybe she would spend time working on her business plan after her children went to bed.

It really didn’t matter how much time Christina devoted to her business on a given day. Christina got to do something everyday that excited her.

By the time Christina walked away from her steady paycheck, she had so much momentum going, fear no longer consumed her. Even though Christina faced plenty of obstacles and financial risk as she developed her business, she persisted. It did not take long before Christina made more money from her business in one week than she made from a month working as a nurse.

Christina’s success is not effortless. She works very hard at it. But, to Christina, it feels effortless. Christina loves what she does each day. She is pursuing her passion. Did you wake this morning thinking, “Today, I get to…” or did you wake thinking, “Today, I have to…?” Those two thoughts highlight the difference between thriving and surviving. When you wake thinking, “I get to…,” you’re having fun in your life and work.

You’re experiencing each day as a new opportunity to get to do what you love. Work can be fun and when it is, you thrive.

It’s your life. Are you having fun?

*Name and identifying information changed. Used with client’s permission.

Small business and life coach, Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D., helps you work smarter, experience more success, and have more fun! Author of “Success from the Inside Out: How Busy Women REAL-ize Their Dreams,” Sabrina offers a FREE e-course: 7 INSIDE TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS OF ELITE PERFORMERS plus FREE subscription to her newsletter at http://www.tapthepotential.com

Written By : Felicia J. Slattery, M.A., M.Ad.Ed.

You know it’s going to be your turn soon. Your palms start to sweat while your hands shake uncontrollably. Your mouth is as dry as the Sahara on a hot summer day. You feel your face and neck burning up; you know you’re getting that flushed lobster-redness where everyone can see. And you’re sure your heart is about to beat out of your chest. Ah. The fear of public speaking. There’s nothing like it. You probably heard Jerry Seinfeld once quipped, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two? Does that seem right? To the average person that means that if they have to go to a funeral, they’d be better off in the casket than giving the eulogy.”

As a public speaker for the past 30 years and public speaking teacher and coach for more than a decade, I have met plenty of folks who have the same feelings described above every time they know they have to give a presentation. So, how do you get past that fear, which for many can be paralyzing? Here are the top five ways to get over your fear of public speaking so you can start to reap the benefits of speaking for your business.

1. Visualize: Take yourself through your presentation in your mind, visualizing yourself feeling comfortable and confident throughout your speech.

2. Practice: Prepared what you want to say in advance. Practice what you’ll say out loud– not just in your mind. The more familiar you are with saying the words, the more easily they will come when you present to an audience.

3. Speak, don’t read: One possible danger of crafting a beautifully written presentation is the temptation to read it word for word. People can usually tell when you’re reading, unless you’ve had some experience with making a script sound natural. Further, the spoken word tends to be more informal than the written word. If you happen to be a great writer, you may want to stick to your carefully written prose… when most listeners prefer to hear conversational language.

4. Be in the moment: Think of your presentation as a regular conversation. Focus on the audience and what questions they may have in their minds about your topic.

5. Butterflies are normal: Those nervous symptoms are your body’s fight or flight response kicking in. It’s body’s way of warning you are doing something out of the ordinary. Be ready for it, acknowledge the feeling, and as we often say in the coaching world: feel the fear and do it anyway! It’s likely as you get rolling that nervousness will melt away, especially if you have done everything else suggested here. Don’t let your fear of public speaking paralyze your business. Public speaking has been called the most powerful form of marketing your business. Isn’t it time to get over it?

Author’s Resource Box:

If you’re feeling nervous about public speaking, I offer several resources to help you get past that, including what one client called a”20 minute miracle” Presentation Preparation, and a Visualization Meditation recording to help you prepare on your own.

Felicia J. Slattery, M.A., M.Ad.Ed., is a Business Communication Consultant, Speaker and Coach with more than a decade of experience teaching people effective and powerful communication skills in order to generate more cash flow. Felicia offers a free e-course for small business owners called Increase Business by Communicating Your Credibility at her website: http://www.CommunicationTransformation.com. Sign up now!

When I ask women what keeps them from going for what they really want, time and time again, I hear “fear” and “self-doubt.” Fear and self-doubt are the biggest obstacles that we place in our own paths.

Perhaps you fear failing. Have you ever avoided setting a goal for yourself just because you feared you would be disappointed in yourself for not achieving that goal? That fear of failure alone is preventing you from having the success you desire. The irony is that if you never actually set the goal, you certainly won’t achieve it. In essence, you have failed yourself by not trying.

Perhaps pursuing your dreams feels too “risky” to you. Ask yourself, what is riskier—sticking with a job and lifestyle that leave you drained and depleted, day after day? Or, pursuing your dreams, waking up each day feeling excited and energized by the possibilities your day holds before you?

Your time on this earth is at stake. There is far more risk in continuing to work in a dissatisfying job and leading a lifestyle that drains you. You are risking stress, burnout, depression and anxiety, all of which put you at higher risk for serious health conditions that may shorten your life span considerably. That sounds pretty risky! Living life disconnected from your passion takes a big toll on you over time.

Perhaps you doubt your ability to have the success you desire. Perhaps you believe other women who are successful are just better or luckier than you. Perhaps you believe you just are not smart enough, talented enough, or just not enough.

If that’s what you believe, consider this—consider all that you already manage on a daily basis. Consider the obstacles, frustrations, and problems that come up in your life on a daily basis. You remove obstacles and dismantle roadblocks from your path all of the time. You always find a way to make things work. You keep your family and yourself clean, fed, clothed, and sheltered.

Now imagine you have the full force of your passion behind you. Imagine being excited about life and the projects you are pursuing. Wouldn’t you rather be overcoming obstacles to pursue your dreams? Wouldn’t it be more fun to know that by overcoming a particular obstacle, you are one step closer to realizing your dreams, living your vision of success?

Life is challenging regardless of what you do, so why not do something you love?

Small business and life coach, Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D., helps you work smarter, experience more success, and have more fun! Author of “Success from the Inside Out: How Busy Women REAL-ize Their Dreams,” Sabrina offers a FREE e-course: 7 INSIDE TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS OF ELITE PERFORMERS plus FREE subscription to her newsletter at http://www.tapthepotential.com

October 21, 2007 Houston, Texas: Women from around the world will be converging on Houston, Texas during the upcoming “Free to be Me” business convention provided by Women Business Owners (WBO) on October 10-12, 2008.

WBO President, Anna Campbell told us, “Our members from around the world will be coming together to meet at this annual event to share their stories, adventures, pictures, and dreams. We will be building bonds that will launch businesses and maintain those that are on the edge.” The upcoming convention offers attendees hands on seminars and workshops they need to take their business to the next level. Each workshop leader has been hand selected by the board of this 501c3 non profit group.

When asked why WBO is providing this convention for their members and the general public, Campbell responded, “Deciding to be in business is a daunting task and one that proves difficult and too much for some. At this years’ convention we will be focusing on learning the tools needed to operate a successful business.”

“Our host hotel this year is the Sheraton North Houston Hotel near Intercontinental Airport and they have provided us with amazing accommodations at affordable rates” says group Vice President, Gazelle Simmons with Administrative Services www.admnsrvcs.com.

Convention fees are record low for this type of convention because WBO understands the daily financial strain business owners deal with and wish to encourage participation and advancement for each one with an affordable opportunity to join with others and be educated. Early bird registration is going on now through December 31, 2007 for only $125 covering three packed days of learning, bonding, growing, and building. This includes an attendee bag filled with amazing goodies, Friday Reception and Opening Ceremonies, Shopping with Featured vendors and sponsors, Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, 5 Seminars and/or workshops on Saturday, Banquet Dinner on Saturday Night, Church Services and Closing Ceremonies on Sunday. For those only able to attend our Saturday seminars and workshops the fee is as low as $40.

“I would recommend all the members of WBO to attend our convention this year so they can forge a stronger bond with the other members and for non-WBO members so they can get an opportunity to see in person the kind of networking we do online then perhaps want to join us until the next convention” says Ms. Simmons.

We asked Simmons why she is attending this year’s event and she replied, “It’s a chance to get to meet people who have shared a part in your life and business. To put faces to names and network face to face with hundreds of women in one place”. One of the workshop speakers, Kioni Carter with Tru Transformation Coaching www.butterflyqueen.com commented, “I would recommend this conference to any woman who owns a business, dreams of owning a business, or simply dreams of owning herself. The inherent power of knowledge is a force to be reckoned with. If you are the type of woman who is hungry for change and a bank of wisdom to pack your arsenal with, I would suggest making a sound investment in an event like this”.

Ms. Carter wanted to be a part of this conference because she believes in the power of a professional network of like-minded women. We have so much to offer the world, and an event like this will only serve to ignite the greatness we all have embedded within us. Doing this conference will give her the opportunity to be a part of a very special movement that signals the onset of a new age of women who understand themselves and their lives from the inside out, and can apply what they have discovered in their business lives as well… truly powerful achievement.

In gratitude to the following convention sponsors for helping make this event possible: Administrative Services, Texas Sawmill Festival, Sheraton North Houston, Host Caters, JamSum Limited, fogtnotes, Firelight Web Studio, and ALCO Consultants, LLC.

Contact our convention committee for more information about being a sponsor, vendor, speaker or attendee at our upcoming convention by email at info@womenbizowners.org, by phone (713) 516-1524 or visit our group website at http://www.womenbizowners.org.

Women Business Owners (WBO) is a national 501c3 non-profit organization, founded in February 2004 by three women with a need for practical business information and connections. Today, our members and sponsors operate WBO through their volunteer hours and generous donations. Our home office is located in Houston, Texas. Our services are available for women throughout the entire world.

Our group provides education and support for women business owners throughout the world with online educational resources, classes, workshops, mentoring, seminars, networking and referrals. By creating an online educational and networking forum, our members are able to connect with others and enrich themselves when it is practical for them.

Our group offers an online resource directory filled with articles, recorded classes, press releases, documents, and more related to all business areas and some personal areas for religion, stress relief and women related issues. Our resource directory is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We share information pertaining to setting up, building, and maintaining a business. We provide information for each step your business will take in our Resource Directory.

Our group is open to all women business owners. Your personal life and business will benefit from being an active member in our group. We believe that through the sharing of knowledge, experience and direction, our members will find their path on their own business and personal journey.

WBO is currently seeking sponsors for their upcoming convention and may be contacted through their website www.womenbizowners.org, phone (713) 516-1524, fax (281) 257-3471, or email info@womenbizowners.org.

September 6, 2007 Houston, Texas: Women from around the globe will be converging on Houston, Texas during the upcoming “Free to be Me” convention provided by Women Business Owners (WBO) on October 10-12, 2008.

WBO President, Anna Campbell told us, “Our members from around the world will be coming together to meet at this annual event to share their stories, adventures, pictures, and dreams. We will be building bonds that will launch businesses and maintain those that are on the edge.” The upcoming convention offers attendees hands on seminars and workshops they need to take their business to the next level. Each workshop leader has been hand selected by the board of this 501c3 non profit group.

When asked why WBO is providing this convention for their members and the general public, Campbell responded, “Deciding to be an owner is a daunting task and one that proves difficult and too much for some. At this years’ convention we will be focusing on learning the tools needed to own a successful business.”

“Our host hotel this year is Sheraton North Houston Hotel near Intercontinental Airport and they have provided us with amazing accommodations at affordable rates” says group Vice President, Gazelle Simmons with Administrative Services www.admnsrvcs.com.

Convention fees are record low for this type of convention because WBO understands the daily financial strain business owners deal with and wish to encourage participation and advancement for each one with an affordable opportunity to join with others and be educated. Early bird registration is going on now through December 31, 2007 for only $150 covering three packed days of learning, bonding, growing, and building. This includes an attendee bag filled with amazing goodies, Friday Reception and Opening Ceremonies, Shopping with Featured vendors and sponsors, Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, 5 Seminars and/or workshops on Saturday, Banquet Dinner on Saturday Night, Church Services and Closing Ceremonies on Sunday.

“I would recommend all the members of WBO to attend our convention this year so they can forge a stronger bond with the other members and for non-WBO members so they can get an opportunity to see in person the kind of networking we do online then perhaps want to join us until the next convention” says Ms. Simmons.

We asked Simmons why she is attending this year’s event and she replied, “It’s a chance to get to meet people who have shared a part in your life and business. To put faces to names and network face to face with hundreds of women in one place”. One of the workshop speakers, Kioni Carter with Tru Transformation Coaching www.butterflyqueen.com commented, “I would recommend this conference to any woman who owns a business, dreams of owning a business, or simply dreams of owning herself. The inherent power of knowledge is a force to be reckoned with. If you are the type of woman who is hungry for change and a bank of wisdom to pack your arsenal with, I would suggest making a sound investment in an event like this”.

Ms. Carter wanted to be a part of this conference because she believes in the power of a professional network of like-minded women. We have so much to offer the world, and an event like this will only serve to ignite the greatness we all have embedded within us. Doing this conference will give her the opportunity to be a part of a very special movement that signals the onset of a new age of women who understand themselves and their lives from the inside out, and can apply what they have discovered in their business lives as well… truly powerful achievement.

Women Business Owners (WBO) is an online non-profit corporation, founded in February 2004 by three women with a need for practical business information and connections. Today, our members and sponsors operate WBO through their volunteer hours and generous donations. Our home office is located in Houston, Texas. Our services are available for women throughout the entire world.

Our group was created with the purpose of education and support for women business owners throughout the world with online educational resources, classes, workshops, mentoring, seminars, networking and referrals. By creating an online educational and networking forum, our members are able to connect with others and enrich themselves when it is practical for them.

Our group offers an online resource directory filled with articles, recorded classes, press releases, documents, and more related to all business areas and some personal areas for religion, stress relief and women related issues. Our resource directory is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We share information pertaining to setting up, building, and maintaining a business. We provide information for each step your business will take in our Resource Directory.

Our group is open to all women business owners. Your personal life and business will benefit from being an active member in our group. We believe that through the sharing of knowledge, experience and direction, our members will find their path on their own business and personal journey.

WBO is currently seeking sponsors for their upcoming convention and may be contacted through their website http://www.womenbizowners.org, phone (713) 516-1524, fax (281) 257-3471, or email info@womenbizowners.org.