Announcements and Opportunities

NAFE Top 50 Companies for Executive Women. On March 25th, NAFE held its gala awards luncheon for this year’s Top Companies at the fabulous Cipriani’s in New York City. Read more about these exemplary organizations here: http://www.nafe.com/web?service=direct/1/View Advanced
PortalPage/Portal Blocks/dlinkArticle&sp=S3060&sp=5117.

Nominations for the 2010 NAFE Women of Excellence are now open! The NAFE Women of Excellence Awards is a program that celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of NAFE members in their careers, businesses and communities. The nomination criteria include success in their professional endeavors (often overcoming the odds), vision and creativity, and helping other women. Deadline is April 15, 2010. Click here for more information on this year’s 10 categories -- and a link to the nomination form. Enter soon!

NAFE Discount on Whirlpool Products. Through a special arrangement with Whirlpool, NAFE members can reap big savings on Whirlpool appliances, accessories and other items. You and your family can purchase up to 12 products a year under the VIPLINK program. Sign up for the discount program – just click on the Whirlpool banner at the top of nafe.com. GROUP CODE:  AFE1A2051

Want to promote your business? A square display ad (120x120 pixels) in one issue of NAFE News & Notes is just $75.00. Larger skyscraper ads (600x120 pix) are a bargain at $175. Contact newsletter editor Paula Damiano to place your ad.

Network News

Operation SafeHouse of Riverside, CA is the beneficiary of two NAFE networks’ efforts. The Murrieta For You Network and South Orange County For You Network recently presented the charity with a large array of toiletry items valued at over $350. The toiletries were collected at the For You Networks’ annual Have a Heart event. An additional donation of $500 in office supplies was also given to Operation SafeHouse, which provides emergency shelter, intervention and outreach services to runaway, homeless and other youth in crisis. For contact information on the two NAFE networks, go to http://www.nafe.com/?service=vpage/357.

Member Profiles

Kimberly Clark, a wedding and event producer with drezrehersal Event Planning Co. in Southern California was featured as a Woman Who is Making Moves, a showcase of outstanding women’s achievements. To read the article “Turn Your Dream Into a Reality with Kimberly Clark,” click here: www.womenmakingmoves.org.

5 Tips for Solving Problems by Shifting
Your Commitments

This issue’s 5 Tips come from Marcia Reynolds, PsyD, an executive coach and the author of the upcoming book, Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction.

What are you committed to?

Every action you take, or avoid, demonstrates your commitment to something.

For example, this morning I demonstrated my commitment to puttering. Since I felt a sense of peace in my puttering, I was committing to my sanity, allowing myself a break between projects. However, my mindlessness could have been driven by my commitment to comfort since I was delaying a project I knew would be intense and difficult. When I was honest about what I was committing to, I had clarity about my choices. I could set a deadline on my puttering and then begin the difficult project.

Commitment is a choice. This choice is based on an emotion. You commit your energy to each moment based on what emotion is aroused: passion, fear, exhaustion, anger, and discouragement to name a few

Tip #1: If you can’t commit to something, ask yourself if you lack passion for the project. If you do, is there anything about the outcome that you can hitch your passion to? You can deal with drudgery much better if you are passionate about the results.

Tip #2: If you are being driven by fear, disappointment or frustration, ask yourself the following questions:

• In five words or less, define the goal you want to achieve.
• What stories are you telling about the people you are dealing with? Could these stories be excuses to justify your procrastination?
• What do you like about yourself right now? What doesn’t feel so good?
• What can you do to shift your emotions so you feel more positively about the goal?

Tip #3: What picture, quote or music can you access to keep you in your desired emotional state? Do you have a clear vision of your future to use as an anchor?

Tip #4: If you are given a project you didn’t want or the process is not going as you had hoped for, allow yourself to grieve the unmet expectation and then let go. You need time to express your sadness or anger before you can recommit your passion. However, if you do not allow yourself to let go—to say goodbye and forgive anyone if you need to—you may be committing to the past because you don’t think things are fair. Focus on what you can control now. Then commit your energy to your future results.

Tip #5: Stop at least three times today and ask yourself what you are committed to. What do your actions represent as a commitment? What emotions are fueling this drive? What would you like to feel instead? How would this emotion change your actions?

Love your commitment or change it. It’s your choice.

Learn all about your fellow business women on nafe.com under Member Profiles. Janice Gallick of CareCircle is currently featured, as well as Vikki Pryor, Robbie Motter and Teriilee Harrison. Click here.

Know another outstanding NAFE member you’d like to see profiled on nafe.com? Send details to NAFE News & Notes editor Paula Damiano.

• Go to nafe.com to view our ever-expanding Calendar of Events for opportunities around the country. The new Search function makes the Calendar even more useful and accessible.
• Use the Event Submission Form online to let us know about events in your area. Events submitted for the website will also be considered for the NAFE News & Notes– twice the exposure for one listing!

Check the NAFE Calendar of Events for network meetings, workshops and other happenings around the country.

Words to
Work By

“The speed of change depends on how much you live in a state of curiosity instead of certainty.”

-Marcia Reynolds, Author: Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction (scheduled for release June 2010)