Once upon a time when I was an employee, I worked at a company that sold software and trained folks how to use the software. I was their new marketing manager. That sounds impressive but in an office of three, where I was the only woman, it's a little less remarkable.  Read more →

Of course, we didn't limit ourselves. The avatar was merely to get us comfortable with how the company was going to grow a community of fans, eager to buy and share and support us. And we had to start somewhere, right? Starting with a detailed, well-thought-out description of our ideal customer got us into the station wagon and ready for our journey.  Read more →

What makes up a Smart Woman? Women I invite to be on Smart Conversations? Well, first, they're smart. Next, they're approachable. Next, they have a message, a purpose, a story. And they want to share it with you. And they understand the concept of reinvention because they're been there, done that, wore the T-shirt out. Read more →

I've had the pleasure to talk with dozens of amazingly smart women, over the years. I've done some of that in Smart Conversations, here on Nurturing Big Ideas. Other times, the conversations were with folks interviewing me. Still other times, I served on a panel of experts. During all of it, I have been blessed with new friendships, great learning, and insight into the many ways we ladies reinvent ourselves, over and over again.  Today's post is a convocation - the word for a group of eagles, and make no bones about it, these women soar like eagles - for your viewing and listening pleasure.  Read more →

After years of struggling as an introvert, Tracey gradually overcame this #2 fear in business by trial and error. Gathering her own field-tested experience over 30 years, along with scientific research, her FEMININE FORMULA FOR EFFECTIVE SMALL TALK came into being. It fits the way women naturally connect and build relationships. Read more →

This is why I asked Kae to be on Smart Conversations. She knows story. She bowled me over with her description of "cave man" storytelling! I almost fell off my chair! So brilliant! Read more →

I learned it's good to look pretty. No, I don't mean run out to the beauty parlor. Or rush out to get a haircut. Or, put on your party duds. I mean, take a shower. Comb your hair. If you wear make-up, put it on. If you have a button down shirt, wear it.  Read more →

This woman is a powerhouse. She wasn't one to sit and wait for life to open a door for her, she gathered her courage and created the right opportunities, just by being herself. It's easy for us to say, "Go do it." I've talked about that before - the people who say "go do it" often seem so removed from the questions and worries of the people they are shouting at. Here's the key, sometimes, "go do it" means, learn how. Read more →

As time went on, I moved my focus from my writing, to your writing. I discovered I enjoyed helping other writers become authors.  I wrote a book. I published it through print-on-demand. I was unhappy with the experience. I started my own publishing company. I became a book coach.  Read more →

An Editor Turns Blah Into Beautiful That's a bold statement. I make it for a reason - in my work with clients I often see places where word choice could be improved. It's not merely a matter of helping them choose the right word, it's helping them choose the best word. It could be a word that is more powerful or a word that adds subtlety. And, I am passionate about word order - is the word in the right place in the sentence? Is the sentence in the right place in the paragraph? Is the paragraph in the right place on the page? Read more →