The Power of Commitment

One doesn’t experience commitment until you enter a room filled with businesswomen whose goal is to learn, network, and uplift each other.  That is the type of commitment I experienced this past Thursday at the Women’s Leadership Exchange held in Atlanta.  The program offered a variety of tools to establish and maintain your own business.  I learned so much as I walked away more stoked than ever to move forward with my entrepreneurial goals.  The taste, the smell, and the vision of freedom are just a few days, few hours away.  I can feel it as the power of commitment rises within me.

Andrea March, one of the co-founders, should be applauded for starting this network supporting women entrepreneurs.   This organization not only helps businesswomen connect with businesswomen, its philosophy is to help us expand that connection by helping each other.  We were encouraged to network to find three people who could help us and three people that we could help.  What a dynamic ‘Pay It Forward’ model.  Along with Andrea, we were introduced to an award-winning entrepreneur and journalist who happens to be the CEO of SBTV.com and who shared three growth secrets we wouldn’t learn in business school.  I won’t tell; you have to visit her website.  But, believe me, I took as many notes as I could and found her information to be very insightful.

All of the speakers were great, including guests who were there to receive very special awards.  These Women’s Leadership Exchange awards were bestowed upon some very accomplished women.  Their stories inspired me to never, ever think of giving up on my dreams.  And, I won’t.  I am putting everything I learned last week to use already, especially the information about branding and social media.  That is why I find this type of networking so valuable.  If you are like me and in the process of building a business, keep an eye out for this conference in your city.  It’s worth it.  However, if you are like me and have limited funding with big ideas, don’t let it deter you.  Find three people that can help you and find three people you can help.  Businesses aren’t really built alone.  There are resources available.  All you need is the power of commitment.  

What is Within You

"The world without is a reflection of the world within. What appears without is what has been found within. In the world within may be found infinite Wisdom, infinite Power, infinite Supply of all that is necessary, waiting for unfoldment, development and expression. If we recognize these potentialities in the world within they will take form in the world without." 

Haanel, Charles;  The Master Key System

As a writer I am constantly in a state of the world within, creating characters, plots, and situations or just reporting what I have investigated or what I have observed.  What happens when these words escape my within-ness is this, words on paper or electronic screens for someone else to absorb within.  We all have a within-ness, how we think, how we are prepared to react, and how we take action to create our own worlds.

This morning I planned to write a note about remembering September 11, but as I awaken I saw the sad news of the protests in the Middle East and the death of our ambassador in Libya.  I pray that mankind as a whole can one day look within our hearts individually and find love, peace, and harmony and let that spread like wildfire.  Because let's face it, all any of us really wants regardless of our beliefs is love. 

“Finally, my brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

 

Just in Time Reading

I just finished reading the The Age of Miracles by Marianne Williamson.  I am on a quest for spiritual enlightenment, so when I hear a quote by an individual that resonates with me, I take the time to seek out their publications.  I can’t even tell you how I heard of Marianne Williamson.  It could have been a name drop or a segment from Oprah.  I don’t remember, but what matters is I do find Marianne’s writings very enlightening, especially this particular book.

Being a middle-aged woman who has a sudden urgency about living my life to the fullest, this book hit close to home.  The Age of Miracles reinforces the inner voice in me that says life is not over after the midlife.  And maybe, I don’t have as much time as I have had before, or perhaps I have even more than I could ever expect.  What counts is how the time I have now, in this moment, is utilized.  Am I using it to serve others, or am I using it to feel happy in my own skin?  Do I accept me for being me? 

The Age of Miracles is a reflection of us individually and as a generation.  Our generation had so much hope, wanted to change the world so badly.  But with all our protests, we helped to damage the world almost close to non-repair.  Change is possible though, we again can be the generation to affect that change.  We can actually save the world this time around, and save our own individual spirits in the process.

 No more ‘me generation’ mentality.  We are all in this together, and the miracle can be what was meant to be, as we have aged and have learned so much along the way.  I do believe I will be reading this book more than once, maybe even more than twice.  I hope you will, too.