Today, I wrote about the vision and mission of A Women’s Place Network, Inc. - Affiliated Women Intltm.  It felt important for me to lay out the  ‘how, where, when’ of it’s ‘birth’.

 It also felt important to talk about our commitment to women - to both a “giant” online community of women (quoting one of our members from the CONNECTION STATION) for women, as well as GROW the face 2 face neighborhood networks for women around the world!

So it’s there!  At the STATION.  You’re ENCOURAGED to click the tab at the top of the homepage here and SIGN UP at the STATION.  Read more about the vision & mission and become part of the soon-to-be-”giant” community of women who want to connect in a warm, inviting and friendly atmosphere!  Or simply click this link:  http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.  As the ole’ expression goes. . . “y’all come!”

 Have a pleasant evening with much tenderness from those about whom you care deeply!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Last week we talked about “online vs offline” networking, and asked the question whether online connections would eventually replace face 2 face.  I think we decided that would never happen.

This week, I want to compare & contrast ‘leads’ and ‘referrals’.  Most of us know exactly what a lead is. 

We’re at a meeting and someone hands us a business card (either their own or that of another) and says “get in touch with him/her”.  Well, okay.  But “him/her” doesn’t know you and doesn’t have a clue what you want or why you’re making the contact.  You have no data to assist you in making a quality contact that leads to a real connection. . . let alone the beginnings of a personal/professional relationship.

Dear friends - that’s a ‘lead’ and following up on it isn’t much different than making a ‘cold call’.  I don’t know anyone who likes cold calling! 

 Today’s CONNECTION STATION blog post gives great tips for turning a ‘cold-call’ lead into a qualified referral with the added bonus of beginning a quality relationship as well. 

 To READ more. . . SIGN UP at the STATION.  Here at the “tab” on the homepage or by clicking on http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com. 

You won’t want to miss my thoughts on this important matter.

Linda, a fellow journeyer

A moped or tractor-trailer? 

As usual I was in a hurry and the tractor-trailer in front of me was slowing me down.  It held huge lawn care equipment.  As I fussed & fumed toward 30th Street, we both passed a fellow on a moped with a wire cart attached that held a small lawn mower & a few hand tools.

I was struck by the metaphor that each represented!  In fact, I chuckled out loud.  “Well, if that isn’t a metaphor for life passions & purposes!”

Want to know how I viewed that happening as a perfect metaphor for our 2nd half of the journey life?  SIGN ON at the STATION. . .  click the tab “CONNECTION STATION” at the top of this page or click on http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.  Either way, you’ll be part of a growing community of women who have much to offer & where the atmosphere is warm, inviting and encouraging.

Have a pleasant day!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Not as bad as the Texas coast; but certainly more than we’re used to in Indiana. Yes, the wind blew - trees fell; windows shattered, roofs blown off. It was not a usual Sunday in September!

In our little corner of the world, we experienced the rage of Hurricane IKE as it roared through Indiana on its way east. As I sat in front of the computer doing my usual Sunday chores, I heard a strange sound. . . like wires flapping against the house. “Never mind, nothing to worry about,” I thought. Well that was until I went downstairs for a ‘break’ and glanced out the back door window!

There it was! Half the neighbor’s tree laying squarely across the driveway between our new fence and garage. “Eek,” I yelled.

 Continue by SIGNING UP at the CONNECTION STATION or click at http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.

Have an awesome sunny Monday with loads of awesome blessings.

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Yes, I know - that phrase is a company’s marketing slogan (don’t remember the company name). And it’s a great one!

When I hear it, I think of relationships. Relationships that over the years have ‘kept giving’ to me - and hopefully to each other. I think of the warmth of family. . . children & grandchildren. I think fondly of friends who’ve been a part of my life since high school.

And I think of the relationship we are privileged to have with our Heavenly Papa! I think how that relationship changes lives. . . changes our attitude and perspective on life in general. Mainly how it changes the way we see ourselves and others.

 You can read the rest of today’s ‘chat’ at the CONNECTION STATION.  Simply return to our “homepage” & ‘click’ the ‘tab’ entitled CONNECTION STATION to SIGN ON.

Or click on this link: http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/ to join us!

Have an awesome day with much love & great joys.

Linda, a fellow journeyer

As most know, a monster storm is bearing down on the Gulf Coast of the USA. . . not NOLA this time, but the entire coast of TX.  Folks are being prepared. . . some leaving, some “hunkering down”.  And then the ‘waiting’.  The waiting until it rolls in, dumps and then rolls out!

For me it’s a metaphor for much of our life experiences. . .whether in our personal or professional life.  The “storms” may be different depending upon where they ‘hit’; but they roll in, dump and then roll out.  We can ‘evacuate’ or ‘hunker down’.

Which is it for you? 

You can read the ‘rest of the story’ at the CONNECTION STATION by signing in at our homepage tab “Connection Station” or click http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.com/.  Either way, we welcome you and any comments you want to make.

Have an awesome day,

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Where were you 7 years ago today?

I dressed quickly, ran to the computer for a last minute check of incoming emails & caught just a glimpse of the news via AOL. 

“Small plane hits World Trade Center”, read the headline.  I was rushing to get into town for a meeting at the local hospital.  I had a consulting contract and this was our regularly scheduled update meeting.

“Where is everyone,” I asked as I pushed through the door of the admin floor?

There, gathered in the board room were all the hospital executive staff. . . glued to the TV.  I wandered in incredulously thinking “what are they doing just sitting around watching TV in the middle of a work morning?”

“You don’t know,” they asked.  No, I didn’t know.  I rarely listen to the radio in the car & I’d only briefly glanced at the news and didn’t realize the magnitude of what had happened that fateful September morning.

I sunk into a chair and watched with the others as we sat in silence.  Tears streamed down the face of a few of the men and I stared in horror as first one tower. . . then the next. . . fell to the ground! 

Then the flash that the Pentagon had been hit.  And another plane was as yet unaccounted for, but suspected to have turned around and was headed for D.C.

“My brother works at the EEOC in D. C.,” I almost screamed!  I grabbed my cell phone and began dialing John’s work number. . .to no avail.  Then his home number. . . nothing - only his v.mail message. 

“I have to go home,” I said as I ran from the room.  No one commented for they remained ‘cemented’ to their chairs with glazed eyes fixed on the TV.

I hate recalling the memories of that day!  I hate how I felt. . . senselessly angry; griefed beyond description.  And I wasn’t there - I hadn’t lost a loved one; been covered by the dust and shattered concrete and twisted metal.  We’d found my brother, but not before a frantic day of searching to know if he was safe.  The quiet of the countryside was eery and even more so was the lack of beautiful jet streams that normally criss-crossed the sky.

Months later, my friend and I visited NYC.  I had to go see for myself even though the barriers and barricades kept much of the huge pile of rubble from our eyes.  Lower Manhattan was like a ghost town and the small historic pub where we had lunch was filled with WTC clean up crews who ate meals there “for free”.  A place that is usually bustling with impersonal activity was suddenly one of the warmest, friendliest places we’d ever been.

I didn’t remember until I went downstairs this morning & looked at the cell.  “September 11, 2008″ it said. 

Ah, yes. . . today is the 7th anniversary of the worst attack on US soil in the history of our nation. 

The question in my mind today is. . . .”will we forget?”  Will I forget?  In a few years, will the memory of this excruciatingly painful day fade from our minds.  Will we go about business as usual and only casually be reminded when we glance at a calendar or someone mentions “911″ to us.

Our humanity works in strange and mysterious ways. . . simply because we are human.  After the initial emotions fade from view. . . we are left with feelings that over time, diminish and drop from the radar screen of recent memory.  It seems that ‘when it doesn’t hurt anymore. . . the pain is forgotten!’

May we all remember this day!  Not with the pain forever etched in our minds, but with the common resolve that “never again” will such an event be permitted to occur on the soil of the greatest nation and finest people of all time!

Amen!

I think once we enter the 2nd half of the journey - and know it; we long for the excitement of the new!

One of the things that I most often want after a dramatic shift in life,  is to return to a state of equilibrium.  Not more of the same, but not a tremendous shift either.  I want a few moments of quiet gentle ‘rocking’ as the ship of life settles back in place.  And I suspect that’s true for most of us.

When I was less chrono-mature, I couldn’t stand too much of the “same”.  I wanted the consistent ‘thrill’ of something different, unique and unusual on a regular basis.  Now that I’ve reached a certain stage of ‘chrono-maturity’, I don’t mind the sweet sensation of consistency & stability.  Old friends, long-term relationships, immediate family are all a part of my “thrill bag”.

However, there’s another side of the story.  Too much ’sameness’ is too much of a good thing.  One way we know we’ve entered the ‘2nd half of the journey’ is when we experience a definite difference in our lives.  Whether it’s the death of a marriage or a spouse.  Children leaving home and loads of empty spaces in our home.  Whatever it is. . . . life is different!

And we may not want more of the same.  We often seek something unique, exciting, and different than the 1st half.  It’s the reason many women move from corporate America into their own business.  It’s also why many of us return to college or learn a new skill. 

Something - anything other than the ’status quo’.  Not more of the same.  But more of what we desire, are passionate about or feel led to do.  And bring on viva la diference!

A word of caution about this time in our lives.   Around the time that the ’shift’ takes place, we may feel an ‘itch’ we can’t quite ’scratch’.  We may look around for something that titillates, intriques or enthuses.  It may not be what’s best for us either.  We may grab onto whatever appears to glitter although not gold.

When you feel that something has ’shifted’ in your life or you’ve experienced a somewhat unique life event that thrusts you into the 2nd half. . . sit back and take two or more deep breaths.  Let the dust settle about your feet before plunging ahead.  Reach out for a few trusted friends who have been there, done that and lived to tell.  Be honest with them and with yourself about what you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing.  And most of all what you’d like to do about it.

Then w_a_i_t for God to show you what is next!  Trust me, He will allow life events to come into view that will give you the clues you need to know what’s next. . . and it will be ‘right’ for you.

And it will “not be more of the same”.  It will be the thrill you are looking for in life that scratches the itch; taps your passion and leads directly into your purpose.  And as I said before. . . .

It will not be more of the same.!

Have an awesome day with much love & considerable wisdom!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

P.S.  Visit us at the CONNECTION STATION.  Link up and connect with a growing community of 2nd half of life women who have much in common to share with each other.  Click the “CONNECTION STATION” tab on the homepage under our banner or click here: http://www.affiliatedwomen.ning.org/. 

Wow, I just experienced the power of this awesome tool we know as the “internet”.  Most especially, Web 2.0!  Social media and online networking.  Let me tell you my personal experience with what this tool can mean to each of us. 

Click the CONNECTION STATION ‘tab’ on our homepage & SIGN ON NOW to read how I proved the POWER of the INTERNET & shared it with our community.

Let it be a very powerful day for each of you!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

What do you think that means?  Well not what you may think.

It has to do with networking and how it is changing and will continue to change as we move deeper into the 21st century. 

Want to know more?  Go to the CONNECTION STATION tab on our homepage & SIGN ON to read the rest of the story!  You won’t want to miss connecting with the great women who’ve already arrived!

 Have an awesome day!

Linda, a fellow journeyer