Can There Ever Be Too Much Of A Good Thing?

In this volatile economy this post might seem strange to some, but I've had to ask myself recently, "is there too much work?" My answer was a clear, resounding, "YES". I am a service provider (a bookkeeper) and in January my phone began to ring and it has not stopped. I live in a small community where word of mouth means more than a two page write up with color pictures. The people calling me all know me well or are connected to someone I know well. I NEVER like to say no to anyone who needs me, it's one of the reasons I love what I do. People need me. I suspect many of us are like this.

In recent months friends and family have told me I seem too busy but I thought I was coping...until last week. Not one, but two clients, kindly and gently, told me I had dropped the ball for them. Nothing catastrophic, the IRS won't come knocking, checks didn't bounce, but certainly out of character for a hyper-organized Virgo like myself. When I shared my conversations with my friend/mentor and my family later in the week, they were rallying to my defense - as all loved ones would do, of course. But I didn't meet the words of my clients with defensive posturing. Instead, I took out last year's daily calendar and compared it to this year's. Wow, what a difference a year can make. I am over booked and double booked and there is no way that one woman can fulfill the needs of this new calendar. I got busy calling and emailing clients to re-schedule this week and next. This week has gone well and next week I will even be able to meet a friend for lunch.

The point I am trying to share is that for a "pleaser" like myself and especially in this economy, saying no to people and the work they offer, is very difficult. But in order to be successful - truly successful - we must create good, healthy boundaries in order to preserve the quality of what we wish to offer the world.

Emailing Marketing Refreshers

Yesterday I attended a webinar hosted by Vertical Response about email marketing. While the much of the information seems "basic" I found it to be a good refresher. Here are a few of the tidbits that stood out:

• Stay consistent with your from label
• Keep it focused: who, what, why
• You should have a "sign up for our newsletter" on every page of your site
• 39% of email users have their images turned off so using alt text tags is a good practice
• Emails should be 80% content and only 20% images
• Include a "forward this to a friend" button
• Put the opt out at the bottom of the email - many people put it on top
• Including an address is required by law (that was new information for this non-retailer)

Like I said, basics but it never hurts to be reminded!

For Seattle Area Readers: A Dialogue With Gloria Steinem

(Photo by Tom Marks, 2008)

Sometimes there are events so extrodinary that we would be remiss not to share them, regardless of their connection to Women Take Wing! For Seattle area readers, we have one such event taking place next week...it is so special we just couldn't keep it to ourselves.

Hedgebrook - a writer's retreat like no other...a place reserved only for women...women authoring change - invites you to join the iconic Gloria Steinem in a dialogue investigating how visionary women writers have revolutionalized our world with their stories and ideas. Readings and conversations will examine how women's voices have shaped our culture across generations, and continue to impact our world in an era of change. If you live in the Seattle area, join us at Town Hall on Friday, June 10th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased directly through the Hedgebrook website. Dori and I will be there and hope you can join us!

~Steph

It's Hard To Keep Good Women Down

The economy has been struggling for many months now. Several friends of WTW and members have felt the pains of “economic slow down”. And yet, they keep on keeping on. They haven’t given up, they have adjusted. They haven’t shuttered their doors but they’ve re-evaluated what is working and what is not. Some have streamlined. Others have expanded their offerings. Privately, in Our Gathering Space, in the cold months of January we wrote to one another that our collective goal for 2009 was to all still be standing in 2010. Half way through this historic year, most of our members have had to shift their visions, retool their trades but all in all, they are still holding their own and doing it on their terms. We continue to cheer them on and celebrate their undying sense of independence. It's hard to keep good women down and we see that every day, here, in the fabulous women who make up our membership!

"Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
~Thomas Alva Edison

Sightings: What Some of Our Members Are Up To

Our own Tabetha Sullens was recently voted "Best of the Best" costume jewelry in McMinnville in the Southern Standard! Tabetha’s unique and very personal jewelry designs are wonderful. The award is well deserved.


Saratoga Community Housing, currently our only non-profit member of Women Take Wing!, is launching a membership and volunteer drive. SCH and other land trust organizations around the country work to create affordable housing for the communities they serve. If you live on Whidbey Island, learn more about SCH or click here to learn more about land trusts around the country.

For those readers located in or around Spokane, WA this weekend, don’t miss one of our favorite events The Farm Chicks. Debi Ward Kennedy is there and we just know her booth will be over the top fabulous. We’ve heard rumors Sara Duckett of Sadie Olive will be there too. It should be a fun party…err, I mean sale.

Pay attention to the details!

Yesterday, when I opened what I thought was my credit card statement from Advanta Bank Corp. I found instead a letter informing me that my account would be closed effective May 30. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

"Your Advanta Business Card account is funded by an independent trust which owns the balances you owe on your account and provides funding for new transactions. We expect the trust to stop funding activity on our accounts. The trust also restricts our flexibility to fund activity on your account. Unfortunately, as a result, effective May 30th all Advanta Business Credit Card accounts, including your account, will be closed.

This means that you will not be able to use your card or account for new transactions, including purchases, checks and balance transfers beginning on May 30th. We understand that you may have written checks on your account before May 30th and we will make every effort to honor those checks that are presented to us for payment by June 3rd. If you use your Advanta card to make automatic recurring bill payments, you will need to make alternative arrangements for those payments promptly."

Advanta is the 11th largest credit card issuer in the United States. Nearly one million small businesses will be affected by this action. If you are an Advanta customer, please do not delay opening and reading recent mail! If you have automatic recurring bill payments, you have less than one week to make alternative arrangements.

Our third winner is.....

Winner of our third and final giveaway, the pretty paisley journal, is....Nancy from Long Island, NY!

Nancy, when you have a moment please email your mailing address to: membership@womentakewing.com.

Congratulations! It really is a lovely journal! I have one on my desk now, too!

Thank you all for playing!