Archive for July, 2009
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Thank you for joining us at another great sold out
Confident Women Conference!
Jennifer Lee, Meredith Oliver, Carolyn Thomas, and Karyn Williams were all spectacular!
[SinglePic not found]Thank you for your support. We are so excited about the 2009 National Expansion campaign and having the ability to give women the COURAGE to DREAM all across America.
If you did not have a chance to pick up the New WOAMTEC theme song by Karyn Williams visit www.karynwilliams.com to order your copy today.
Allison D’anna and the Winter Park Chapter was recognized for achieving the Fabulous 50s club, Leah Turner was awarded a free membership for having the most new member referrals, and Winter Springs kicked butt with the highest percentage of member attendance at the event! Great job everyone. We had 250 members, 23 vendors, and a fabulous team of
event partners!
Remember….No more excuses, No more Fear, and Always Have Faith!
If you are not yet a WOAMTEC member, we are looking for people just like you, so be sure to respond to the the WOAMTEC request for more information form.
Request for more info form. New Member Information Request Form
View the new Confident Women Magazine eMag edition.
View eMag Summer 2009 Edition
or
Download the PDF Version 5.4Mb
Make every day a great day!
Kathleen Hawkins
President
[SinglePic not found] A President’s Message
We’ve grown tremendously during the past year. Even though I can’t attend all WOAMTEC’s networking lunches, I’m there with you in spirit. It is my hope and prayer for each of you that your business achieves the success you’ve worked for and deserve. And through God’s grace, you will.
This past month was my twentieth reunion; it made me think a lot about my childhood, about my high school and college days, this time through eyes that can see the larger reason for my challenges. Those were some of the worst years of my life. Most kids struggle through high school, but my family experienced more challenges than normal. Luckily, we all survived and persevered, but it was tough and the story could have unfolded very differently. Now I know that sometimes our lowest point is God teaching and preparing us for the future. Perhaps one day, the time will come to share those details, but for now I want to just give you a small glimpse of my past to express why your networking success AND empowering women and children through WOAMTEC is the purpose of my professional and philanthropic life.
I have been on my own since age 17. A job at a small vocational technical school in Tampa kept a roof over my head and kept me in high school. Thankfully, I graduated from high school, making good grades and striving to live as normal of a life as possible for a teenager living on her own. I worked a full time job, was an active student government member and very involved in clubs at school. I made more money my senior year and the summer following graduation than today’s national average. By then, I was working as a telemarketing supervisor for a private technical college. The experience taught me to work hard; to stay focused.
I could have adopted the, “Why me?” mentality. I didn’t. There was no plan B; I existed in survival mode. I knew at that moment giving up was not an option and I had to persevere and have the courage to dream. I gravitated and held on to people I admired. I attached myself to mentors and held on as tight as I could. I knew I could be more, do more and would not settle for the hand I was dealt.
Before long, I was teaching my way through college and soon thereafter even teaching college classes. Though, I always wish that time in my life could have been different. I am glad it wasn’t. That experience and those lessons taught me to never give up and keep moving forward. We all have room for growth. If you want to grow, then teach someone else.
As women business leaders, we understand empowerment. We know how to help ourselves. As women, we innately care about others. That is one of our greatest strengths. Today, there are many women out there, experiencing exactly what I did regardless of their age. Scared, alone, not sure of their direction or journey and living lives without focus, determination and faith. WOAMTEC believes we can help these women and offer them more than a job or a paycheck. We can offer them mentors, counseling, and a support system every women needs.
WOAMTEC recently announced its new apprenticeship membership level. If you know of a woman who recently lost her job and is in the market for a new one or a recent college graduate, point her to WOAMTEC. And if you meet an apprentice, extend your hand as you always do. WOAMTEC isn’t about me; it’s about you.
Teaching others your networking skills will make you more effective and helping another woman feels great. When you teach, you learn.
Because of you, WOAMTEC is making a difference. Keep building your family and community; keep building your business. Keep the faith. I hope to see you at the July 28, 2009 Conference. It is going to leave you soaring for success.
Blessings,
Kathleen Hawkins
Pay close attention, because this is absolutely the easiest way to make yourself different from your competition and your only cost is time!
[SinglePic not found]I woke up this morning early enough to listen to the kids watching Agent Oso and Mickey Mouse and decided to let them rest for a little while and start this week’s blog. My goal was to share with you the 4 Tips to Basic Customer Service.
As I typed away reviewing the importance of customer service and perceived value in business today, I was at a stand still as to how to describe what the true difference of a business thriving right now and the ones striving to survive. I decided to take a break and get the family ready for church. At church, our Pastor, Dr. Joel Hunter from Northland conducted a sermon titled “Doesn’t Science Make Scripture Obsolete?” It was a great service and I strongly suggest it.
One of the things he referenced was, “Are you seeing life in Pixels?” Well after spending over a decade of my life in the Photography industry, his analogy hit home. When working in Photography, you increase the opacity and zoom in as large as possible, so you can see every tiny detail. We think we are doing what is best for our customers because we are focusing on every important aspect of the image. But are we missing the biggest picture of all? Are you seeing the client or just their picture?
Further along in his sermon, Dr. Hunter mentioned that often we view the Universe as a machine and when something goes wrong our first instinct is to replace the part. Then comically, he said though some of you might believe something is wrong with your husband, but that doesn’t mean you can just replace him. (Not that some of us, haven’t done that!) His point was not to lecture on marriage and values but remind us that there is more to life then the “pixel” in front of our face. It was about building relationships and communicating to solve the problem and focus on what is important.
That was when it clicked…You see if we zoom in and look at each pixel in our life, sometimes we miss the bigger picture or over look the purpose of all the tiny details.
So with that being said, consider these 4 Tips to Basic Customer Service:
- Develop a list of ways to offer superior customer service. The number one way to keep a customer is to provide good service. But do you have systems set in motions to really see and know your clients? Or are you just looking at one Pixel? At times like these, it is imperative to offer your customers more than what they expect!
- Develop a relationship with your client. I meet business associates all the time questioning social marketing and the strategy of mixing business with pleasure. Just because it is now easier to do via Facebook and Twitter, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been being done in successful businesses for decades. (Maybe on the golf course or in business clubs, verses the Internet.) Clients can’t trust you, if they don’t know you. Be accessible and let them see your pixels. If there is something you don’t want them to see, maybe you should ask yourself if it is something you should be doing at all.
- Don’t delay to resolve a problem. Sometimes, you will be faced with challenges or problems with customers. Empathize and don’t put off dealing with the challenge. Even if you both are seeing separate pictures, remember the customer is still always right and making them happy will lead to the bigger picture and that is the one that matters.
- Don’t discount services, instead add value. Those of you that have read my books or heard one of my seminars has heard me lecture on bundling products and building a perceived value with your clients for years. Everyone is tired of the economy and exhausted from financial stress. But that doesn’t mean they won’t buy your products. It is a fact that when a someone wants something bad enough, they will find a way or make a way to make it happen. You just have to build value to the products and service you are offering.
So as you begin your week, when you are frustrated, stressed, overwhelmed or tired. Remember to evoke gratitude, love, and compassion in those around you and always look at more than one pixel. It not only makes life easier, but that Passion, creates a much bigger Purpose and soon you will be seeing the bigger PICTURE!
