We often talk “business talk” here. Yet our mission is to be a rich resource for ALL women from ALL walks of life. But not every ‘chrono-maturing woman’ traveling the 2nd half of the journey has her own business. Many women’s ‘professional career’ is as Chief Executive Officer & Operations Director of a well-run household! In fact, when we developed our unique strategic relationship-building networking model, we developed it will ALL women in mind.

So how do we make it fit? You know, business; home management; career, etc. What do a woman who owns her own business or works in corporate America have in common with a woman who manages home & family as her primary career?

For a year now, when I think of the “ConnectWorkingtm” model, I think the phrase, “The Business of Life”. So I looked the word “business” up in Webster’s. Yes, sure enough, the fellow’s first definition was one considered to be ‘archaic’ or out-of-date. Not according to me it’s not!

Webster: business (archaic old English) “productive activity” as in busy-ness. Emphasis here on “productive”.

 Provocative thought?  I think so.  Read the rest of the story at the CONNECTION STATION.  “Tab” at top of page or click here:  http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.

Have an awesome day!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

It was a busy weekend. Getting ready for an event & all the nervous jitters that go along with it. Interspersed with all that ’stuff’ was getting myself aligned with all the other social networks that Kyle recommends. I looked at the list & ‘prided’ myself on getting most of it done! Well, almost.

But underneath the rapid-fire activity was a sense of ‘loneliness’. You know, that haunting sense that no one hears; worse yet, no one cares! I told myself little white ‘lies’. “They’re busy,”…

Today’s provocative question (at least I think it’s ‘provocative’) is has the internet brought us closer together. . . .or forced us apart?  Better yet, is the sense of ‘community’ the internet is supposed to create real. . . . or simply a ‘phantom’!

If some Monday’s feel like you’re ‘crying in the wilderness’ then read more & answer the questions by signing on at the CONNECTION STATION (http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.  It’s the “rest of the story!”

Mucho blessings,

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Yes we are.  And we have power! 

The question is not whether we do or not.  The question is do we use what we have?

This is a very provocative subject.  One that is particularly salient at this time in history because of “Sarah”.  She has prompted loud & sometimes boisterous conversation (or shouting) around a subject that seemed almost ‘dead’ or at least ‘quiet’.  You know the questions that have reared since she was chosen to be the 2nd in command on one brave man’s ticket!

The questions (or statements) that “she doesn’t speak for women” to “she’s one of us!”  So once again, after years of quiet chit-chat at the ‘water-cooler’, we are engaged in feminist talk.

Well I said something sometime ago that bears repeating & you’ll find it at http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/ or by simply ‘clicking’ the “Connection Station” tab at top of this page!

See ya’ there!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

I started this post last evening & set it to appear about 7:00 a.m. today. OOPS, that didn’t work, so here I am again to complete thoughts that began late last evening.

When you look at our ‘logo’, you notice a woman standing on the ‘wave of the future’ with briefcase in hand. The real strength in the logo is the 3 ‘balls’ she is bouncing in her left hand. Only three?! Do we only have “3″ balls to bounce at any given time? Let me tell you that I would be thrilled to only have 3 balls in the air at one time!

Most of us ‘chrono-mature’ women traveling the 2nd half of the journey have many more projects or responsibilities or whatever we want to call ‘life situations’ to manage. To keep “up and bouncing” without any falling to the ground.

 Well the “rest of the story” is found at the CONNECTION STATION!  You can get there by simply ‘clicking’ the ‘tab’ at the top of the page that says “Connection Station”.

 Or you can ‘click’ the following link (http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/) & SIGN UP to join a rich community of vibrant women with much richness to share.

Your choice & our privilege to make it available to ‘chronologically maturing women’ traveling the 2nd half of the journey!

See you at the STATION!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Just finished an awesome phone conversation with a fellow I met several years ago in Cincinnati.  He’s interviewing me tomorrow on B 2 B relationships (imagine that), so we got reacquainted and talked about how things in our world are changing.  One thing led to another & what occurred to me is “why do we do what we do?”

Interested in what I have to say?  Or are you asking yourself - “what in the world is she talking about?”

Well here’s how you resolve your interest &/or the question you’re asking yourself.  Click the TAB at the top of our homepage entitled “Connection Station”; SIGN UP and read today’s BLOG POST in its entirety.  It’s a great place to be!!!

Look forward to CONNECTING with you at the STATION!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Okay, they do what?

Well they go ’shopping’ of course! At least that’s what the little sign by the laundry in my basement says. It says that “when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!”

I’m being a little fasicious here this morning & it certainly doesn’t sound like “wisdom” does it!? But it is. If we think of “shopping” as walking away from what’s ‘tough’ in our lives for the moment & take a long leisurely walk in a not so crowded mall just to ‘window shop’. Don’t have to buy a thing - well maybe except a peanut butter passion ice cream cone & make it a ‘waffle cone’, please!

Think I’m being really off the wall?  Not at all.  Read more at http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.

And have a blessed day of leisure!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

We’ve talked a great deal about ‘target markets’ and many of you are getting the ‘hang’ of what is meant by defining a ‘target market’. But what about our “niche” in the market?

One of the statements in our ConnectWorkingtm format is “my ‘niche’ is. . . . !” Some AWItm face 2 face members stumble a wee bit with this one. So I decided I would add a few words to clarify.

Read the rest of my comments at http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com.  Of course, you’ll need to SIGN UP to do so.  It’s simple and a great place for ‘chrono-mature’ women to be!

Have an awesome day discovering how you are unique & different.   More importantly, may others discover it too!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

This past Saturday, I wrote quite passionately about a conversation I had with Christy while plopped on a stone wall outside the Glitz n’ Glam event. Her report of a conversation she, Justine & Kim had earlier in the day revved my engine as the ole’ saying goes! So blogged on “The Classroom” and stressed the fact that it’s not about ‘formal education’ as much as it is about how we interpret life events and the wisdom we gain from doing so.

And I plead with each of you to come here, jump over any timidity you might have, and add your particular wisdom to the community. I noted that’s how we are a resource to enrich, encourage and empower each other!

It got me to thinking about all the scientific data that is out there now talking about how to stay youthful while growing more chronologically mature! Particularly data about remaining mentally youthful and alert while advancing on the ‘chrono-scale’.

Well you can read the entire article at http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com under Blog posts. 

See you there!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) where you rise early, take a little coffee & prayer time, then hit the work load and keep going and going like the energizer bunny?

That’s what these days are like for me.  I feel like I’m running in circles, chasing my tail and getting no where fast.  I looked at the time, and realized I hadn’t posted anything here today.  Then I got here and realized I hadn’t posted anything since Thursday!  That’s very unusual for me.

Fall is here and fall in Indiana is exquisite.  But I’m missing it!  I’m here in my cubby office, working away while the sun shines warmly & everyone with a grain of sense is sitting on their porch taking in the last of the late summer warmth.

Yet I wonder what I would do if I didn’t have anything to do!   Would I read again. . . something I always loved to do?  Would I take a walk in the park and try out the swings with g’kids at my side?  I might try cleaning house, but then that’s work - right?

Truth is, I’m not a woman to retire!  Even if it ever occurred to me to do so, I wouldn’t.  Yet there are those days when I’d prefer to have less on my ‘plate’ and a little time for sitting in the sun and contemplating my toes (as an ole’ saying goes).

It’s Monday - the beginning of a work week.  Why would we even be talking about “finding time in the midst of. . . . “  After all, Monday is the day we hit it hard and make up for 2 days of leisure (for those of you who have leisure!).

Because time is the one thing we cannot ‘redeem’.  We can’t go back and make up for ‘lost time’.  We can’t ‘bottle’ it or ’save it’ or anything remotely resembling getting it back once it’s gone.  Try as we may, fall will give way to winter and then comes spring.

I used to counsel folks to “find time in the midst of all they have to do”.  I would give them the benefit of my ‘wisdom’ & encourage them to take a little time to do something besides the tasks on the list for the day.  I never quite understood the strange looks they’d give me when I made such a suggestion.  I knew that taking time to focus thoughts, attention and the bod’ in another direction for just a brief time would rejuvenate the spirit and energize the psyche.

It’s still true today.  Finding time. . . actually it’s more accurate to say “taking time”. . . in the midst of a hectic schedule with all time-sensitive things to accomplish can and often does rejuvenate the spirit and give us the energy to go back at it with a different perspective. 

This time, I’m the one that needs to take my own advice.  I’m the one who needs to ‘find time’ in the midst thereof. . . so that when I return to the ‘cubby’, it takes on a different hue and seems less demanding than when I left.

So as we wind down another Monday, let’s close up shop. . . wonder home or wherever it is we go at the close of a Monday marketplace day. . . and “find time” in the midst of the evening to lounge leisurely without lists of tasks at hand.

Let’s make a deal - okay?  I will if you will!

Have an awesome evening with time on your side!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

One of the things that I’m learning about 2nd half of the journey challenges is that ‘chrono-maturity’ most often brings a sense of our own worth as women!  And a sense of our worth carries decisiveness.  A decisiveness that may lead to being exceedingly forthright and direct.

You know, folks aren’t used to “forthrightness” and “directness”!  While we often say we want ‘authenticity’, ‘transparency’. . . I’m not sure we always mean it.  And it certainly isn’t something we want directed at us or shall I say - I like it as long as I’m wearing the label!  But don’t others dare exhibit it with me.

So how to handle our own ‘forthrightness’ and ‘directness’?  Well if you’re interested, then visit http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com for more.  Or simply ‘click’ our “CONNECTION STATION” tab; sign up and read the rest of my thoughts on the matter!

In the meantime, have an awesome day!

Linda, a fellow journeyer