Margery's Note....
Moving forward….
It helps to have something to move toward….
And without a strategy, we won’t get very far….
As a life and business coach I have found that being strategic is extremely beneficial to having peace of mind. Aimless wandering can be relaxing and nourishing, but only for a short time. Pretty soon we look up and ask ourselves, what am I doing???
That doesn’t mean to plan every minute of every day. That would be exhausting! But having a clear direction and setting clear boundaries in our daily lives makes so much difference!
My son is 52 and I have learned over the years to let go of my mothering instinct (no, for some of us it never goes away completely!) and ask questions, listen and only offer input if he wants it. That is my strategy for having a warm, loving relationship with him. It minimizes conflict!
I really care about having enough money for the rest of my life. So I am strategic about it! I have a wonderful financial adviser and plan, that I follow religiously. It gives me a feeling of security so I don’t have to panic if I have a minor setback such as a big repair bill or medical issue. I’m working my strategy and it keeps my emotions on an even keel.
I’m not sure how long Great Girls Network will be a viable entity. So my strategy is to keep doing our meetings, and look for women who might want to keep it going beyond me. If that works out, it will be wonderful. If it doesn’t, then I will figure out what to do next when it comes time to renew the domain name (2027).
I’m using these examples to point out that being strategic doesn’t have to be monumental, it really works when you apply the concept on an everyday basis and see yourself as a strategic person.
And, I get help when I need it! That is one vital strategy I employ: having a panel of experts to bounce ideas off of and put things in motion when needed. That includes my friends, of course, but also my lawyer, accountant, banker, real estate advisor, and especially my naturopath and primary care doctor. At my age, having these people in place and available are necessary and also a tremendous blessing. Consulting them is a pleasure because I need their help!
I hope this month you can find a little time to think through your strategies for moving your life forward in a way that works for you.
This picture is from Margery’s 75th birthday party….
Member Notes
GGN Member Joan Affenit has a new Art Show!
This is the first one with mostly artists showing…. And she has some new pieces to share below….
GGN Member Glenna Hecht shares her latest blog post
The Power of Connection
As I step into 2024, my word of the year is “Connection.” In a world that often gets hectic and challenging, this word serves as my anchor and guiding light, helping me move forward, connect with my values, the people in my life, and the natural world around me.
Let’s explore how fostering meaningful connections, both within and beyond our organizations, becomes the cornerstone of impactful leadership.
The Essence of Connection:
In today’s fast-paced world, authentic connections are more precious than gold in the realm of leadership. It’s about crafting relationships that go beyond transactions and make everyone feel like they truly belong as an employee or customer.
Nurturing Internal Connections:
- Team Unity: A connected team is a powerhouse of productivity. Leaders must encourage open communication and collaboration as the first step.
- Leadership: Leadership impacts trust and morale in the team. The leader must lead by example, walk the talk, listen, show empathy, engage with the team, and create personal connection. This is an expectation of employees and must become the norm.
- Employee Well-being: The foundation of connection starts with the well-being of your employees. Caring about their physical and mental health demonstrates a genuine commitment to your people. Leaders must provide an open door and offer an outlet that provides a resource for employees to discuss their life and gain support, when needed.
GGN Member Maddy Kulkarni (Founder and Executive Director of Dallas Heroes Project) shares a
message:
For our Dallas Heroes Project February feature, we are spotlighting Pastor Leon Birdd, who has been conducting an outdoor Sunday church service for our homeless neighbors since 1995!
Pastor Leon’s S.O.U.L. Church service is full of music, positivity, and a feeling of community. Some neighbors walk to the service (conducted near Fair Park), and a few vans offer transport from nearby shelters. While at the service, our neighbors benefit from wraparound services like coffee and pastries in the morning, a place to shower and do their laundry (via a genius mobile unit!), an opportunity to pick up fresh shirts, socks, etc. and a hot lunch.
Per the homeless count organized by Housing Forward, we had 4244 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2023. The 2024 count was just completed at the end of January and the results are being tallied.
If you’d like to get involved, here are a few ways:
1. Volunteer on a Sunday with your family and friends by signing up here. Help with the setup, serve lunch, and see if you are inspired to get involved in other ways!
2. Like and Share the content we are creating on our Facebook and Instagram pages so we can expand our reach and awareness of Pastor Leon and his team’s work
Thank you,
Maddy and the Dallas Heroes Project team
P.S. Note on last month’s feature on Ms. JR Newton’s work on domestic violence: At the end of January 2024, Dallas had 157 less DV cases than in Jan 2023, a decrease of 13%! This is good news, but even 1 case is too many, so please keep spreading the word about DV training, what to do in an emergency situation, etc.
To learn more about Dallas Heroes Project go to www.DallasHeroesProject.org
GGN Member Jaime Goff shares:
I was just interviewed for the podcast Forward Looking Leadership with Dan Freehling. Here are the links to the episode:
You can listen on iTunes
and Google Play
A special note from former GGN Member Jaime Meyers:
We have the privilege of partnering with the Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) to recruit a Chief Executive Officer to build on nearly forty years of impact. Founded as the Dallas Women’s Foundation in 1985, the organization embraced its expanding footprint across the state by rebranding as Texas Women’s Foundation in 2018. Today, the Foundation is a leading driver of social and economic change for women, girls and families in Texas by leveraging research, advocacy, innovative programs and solutions, and grantmaking. Under the collective expertise of Foundation Staff and a Board of Directors who represent the diverse interests of the communities, the TXWF is one of the largest women’s funds in the world with assets over $30 million.
Jaime is a Partner in Victory Search Group. If you are interested in this position or know of someone, you can contact Jaime by email at [email protected]. or 214.749.0110.
Thank you to Toni Portmann for sharing these quotes:
“What is success? It is being able to go to be each night with your soul at peace.”
― Paulo Coelho
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”
— Amelia Earhart
Track Meetings
We still ask for $5 to cover costs. And yes, you can register at the last minute…. but it would be GREAT if you let us know a couple of days before so we can plan our refreshments!!!
Our Track meetings are designed to give us a sacred space to have meaningful, purposeful conversations without fear of being judged or competed with. Only Members can attend. They are amazing experiences, unlike any ‘networking meeting’ you have ever attended!
GGN members MUST REGISTER to attend these meetings, so just follow the links below! And if you want to learn about us, go ahead and join GGN~~if you decide it isn’t for you, we will refund your membership fee!
Currently we meet the 2nd Monday morning and 3rd Wednesday evening of each month (see below).
Each one is an event or happening in itself. Some members come frequently, some come only once in a while. Whenever you attend one, you will find out things you didn’t know, connect with women who will challenge and inspire you, and you will leave with some new perspectives.
Monday Morning Magic Track
- February 12, 2024
- 10 am to noon CT
- Maybe you’re thinking about new strategies? Maybe you just want some time with great women? Join us!!
Click here to join us for Monday Morning Magic!
Growth & Transitions
- Wednesday, February 21, 2024
- 7 to 9 pm CT
- I don’t know about you, but I intend to keep growing and learning for the rest of my life…. And this group helps me do that! Come hang with us!!
Become a Member!
Great Girls Network is our way of being the opposite of the Good Ol’ Boys Network (which is still very much alive and well!). Even if you don’t participate in Track meetings, your membership gives you a way to support our existence and be a part of a growing group of women who really appreciate each other. And the Trii-Annual Gatherings are unlike any other “networking” event! We know women don’t network like men. We want to build relationships, we want deeper, more meaningful connections. That is exactly what GGN provides.
Our membership fee of $50 per year gives you access to our Track Meetings and also contributions to our Newsletter. The fee helps sustain our website, but it also ensures that when you participate in a Track meeting, you will honor the sacredness of the conversations because you are a member.
We created a digital card that helps people understand what they can get from joining GGN so click here to see the card.
Your membership helps give us that foundation, the strength to grow and have an impact on the lives of so many more women.
