Standing: Lori Webster, Jennifer Hamilton, Diana Manchester, Jane Neff Rollins, Author Nada Jones, Susan Kitchens, Anne Louise Bannon. Sitting: Donna Chaney, Elke, Margit Holakoui, Randi Burton. The women model scarves hand-made by Burton.I've been going to Business Boot Camp where the barracks are swell, the mess hall ain't half bad and I never have to say "Sir, yes sir!"
When the Pasadena Women's City Club "Women in Business" Committee was looking for something more active than a speaker lunch, member Donna Chaney of Chaney Financial Services was considering a business planning workshop. She came across a book called Sixteen Weeks to your Dream Business: A Weekly Planner for Entrepreneurial Women by Nada Jones and Michelle Briody. Donna says, "My interest met [the committee's] and bootcamp was born."
Donna couldn't have known what a huge project she was getting herself into. But she did know she'd need a partner and she asked Lilli Cloud of Blue Feet to help. Both business-savvy women lead a large group of women at varying levels of savvy as we've devoured the book, embellishing with input from experts within the group and without. We're learning about budgeting, web design, branding, marketing, business plans, you name it. And at last week's meeting Nada Jones, one of the book's authors, surprised us with a visit. (She's even in the photo, which I took long after the meeting when most people were already gone. My apologies to those who missed posing. We'll do it again.)
Among the many things we've learned is the difference between PR and advertising. For example, if I post about a business, that's PR and I get to say what I want to say. If someone buys an ad on the blog, that's--well, that's an ad. I've made a proposal to the group: if a member chooses, I'll post about her business here on PDP. Once I've had my say, if she's still brave enough to advertise on PDP, maybe she will. See how I'm grokking this? (Hey, I'm blogging with integrity here.)
A new session of Business Builders Boot Camp will start in April, 2010, with further information coming out in February. But if you're interested, you don't have to wait. Contact Donna Chaney at 626-768-0080 or donna (at) chaneyfinancialservicesinc.com. You don't have to be a member of the Women's City Club to join.
16 comments:
I only hope your friends are lovers of the K9.
Advertising is usually expensive. So, I pray you get a brunch of them to buy your PDP ads, P!! In that case, you may have just fallen into your Dream Business!
Q: What's the difference between advertising & marketing?
December 18, 2009
I've never been on any kind of boot camp. But I'm hoping to be called up when Christian Louboutin or Manolo Blahnik put out the call.
Your shindig sounds very productive, Petrea ~ good on all of you!
What a terrific idea. THanks for sharing that info with us P. I'm sure there's a way to make money blogging but it has escaped me so far!
Great fun--and sounds productive too!
That's a good question, Cafe. Hey, how come you're Cafe P here and Cafe O elsewhere?
Shell, when you're called I know you'll do your duty standing tall.
Virginia, I don't think there's a formula unless you know how to come up with a new I Can Haz Cheezburger every time. I'm pretty sure that one was luck. I'm giving a talk about about blogging at our next meeting.
Desiree, it's been great.
People think all we german shepherds look a like. And, that we're one & the same. People!!
What kind of business's are these ladies involved in?
I love the bootcamp idea. I think it's brilliant.
Sounds like a great group with great opportunity.
I just hope you don't end up with the typical G.S. hip problems, Cafe.
PA, there's a little bit of everything: people in the restaurant business, a jewelry maker, a lawyer, a human resources consultant, a happiness coach, and even a woman who specializes in clothing for magicians. There are also those like me who aren't sure what their business should be but want to learn about entrepreneurship.
I do, too, Margaret. It has been a learning experience as well as a bonding one.
FA, it sure is.
A great concept. You gals rock.
Thanks. We love it.
You are going to teach the session on blogging? Yay!
Thanks for the new word grokking.
Dina, "grok" comes from Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" (wish I could claim it). I would say it means "to fully understand," but it means much more than that. I looked it up on Wikipedia to get it right.
I'm quite envious of your group, Petrea; 1) that you have such a group, and 2) that they have you!
I will look up that book and see about some groups that are in my area; seems I should be looking for a new form of employment since the lay offs at Wyeth (now Pfizer) will be happening in my dept in the next few months. Could be good timing...time to take my own next step; your group and blog are inspiring me to put my thoughts into action...
Is the Boot Camp for a week or so, or is it more like one day a week? Thinking I really need to be moving back to CA...hmmm...
We've been meeting once every two weeks for about three hours at a time, Susan. The meetings started in...September, I think? And they're continuing until...February? I'm not sure. It's 26 weeks. A big commitment but it's only every two weeks.
Click on the Nada Jones link. She told us there are other groups doing this. Maybe there's one near you, or maybe she has some guidance on how to start a group of your own. Or write to her. She's personable and approachable.
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