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Sheri Gaynor, lcsw/reat/artist )
Co-creating Possibilities March 2006
in this issue
  • When it's time for a change...
  • LOCALS: Rise and Shine to a New Paradigm
  • Notes from Sheri-Living in the Mystery

     
  • Greetings!

    Site Update: We are still busy working on the site and new concepts. We are adding some great new features, so we are taking some additional time as we want to make a big splash right out of the gate.

    Stay Tuned...


    Sheri Gaynor

     
    When it's time for a change...


    When is the last time you sat down and evaluated your business?
    The last several months we have been doing just that here at the studio, so it feels like perfect timing to share a simple way to find a circle of support, when current business models and practices feel outdated. This is a great way to get re-energized while gathering some fresh perspectives. A new intention or practice could be hosting one of these every couple of years, so your business stays fresh! Sometimes we are too close to the picture to see a clear view, friends and colleagues can offer us some out of the box concepts we might never have thought of ourselves.

    Host a focus group pizza party or pot luck, we did and it was a blast! This is a simple yet, extremely powerful way to get feedback about your business model.

    HOW IT WORKS: Create a cute invitation and send it 8-12 friends. A larger pool will assure you there will be enough women who can attend for a good sample to draw from; most of us are busy creatures. Allow 3 hours for the evening and create an e-mail group for follow up information to let them know what has transpired as a result of their participation.

    In the invite announcement, explain the evening and what you will be asking of them, so they know what they are committing to and there are no surprises on their end. The important thing is to mix it up a bit. Invite women who know you very well, others who are might be considered acquaintances, women in your direct line of work (or close to it) and women who are professionals in a different field . The importance of mixing it up is that you will have a larger field of information to draw from to gather information, and the process becomes instantly objective.

    DO YOUR HOMEWORK: Before the event you job is to create a sheet with 3-4 basic questions for the women to answer. Think about your current business or life situation. You have now created your dream focus group, what is it you would like to know? Where are you struggling for objectivity or savvy and fresh ideas?

    ITS SHOW TIME: When the women arrive, hand out your sheet and explain how the evening will work. Tell them they will hand this sheet in at the end of the evening. Explain that your feelings will not be hurt, that you are requesting honest, open feedback. Tell them they can remain anonymous, so they feel the freedom to get down and dirty girlfriend honest with you.

    SAMPLE QUESTIONS: Here are a few sample questions to get you started...

    • How would you describe my business?
    • How would you describe my role/strengths/gifts?
    • What are other people saying about my business?
    • Is there a product or service you want or that we might add?

     

     
    LOCALS: Rise and Shine to a New Paradigm


    There is a new group on the block! Come join us. Sure it's early, but I guarantee you will feel energized when you leave.

    The group is the brainchild of Shari Nova (Eco- Broker) and Lisa Ruoff (Eco-goddess). It is similar to what we hosted at the studio when we began Community Partnerships Networking.

    Here is an excerpt from their flyer: "New Paradigm Networking is an opportunity to build business and forge friendships through mutual respect, in a non-competitive and supportive environment, exploring new ways to achieve sustainable community. "

    Hope to see you there. Tuesday meetings fall on March 14th and 28th @ 7:30 AM at the Village Smithy in Carbondale. Here is a letter from Lisa to the following the first meeting. All information is within the text.

    Hello Ladies! Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to our first networking meeting! It started my morning out great and made me really excited about my business again (I'm only part-time right now, so I can get off track easily...). Shari and I have decided that we are going to keep meeting every two weeks - 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. We felt that it would help to keep us motivated to attend and this way there is more of an opportunity for others to join when they can. Please don't take this to mean you are obligated to every 2 weeks - come when you can and take advantage of what it can offer your business and our community! If anyone is interested, we would like to put together a brochure for people to pick up at meetings, and would love for you to send us a little blurb about your business (or you personally) and what you do. This way we can have something for other attendees to take with them if they need specific information. If you need to get in touch with us - Shari Nova 963- 3300 and Lisa Ruoff 948-4321 Thanks again for coming! And we hope to see you again - this month's Tuesday meetings fall on the 14th and 28th. And feel free to pass this along to anyone you may thing would be interested.

     

     
    Notes from Sheri-Living in the Mystery


    Clients over the years have shared with me that my authenticity, openness, warmth and humor is what inspires them and gives them courage to step into this in their own lives. During our recent focus group, this was one of the factors that really stood out, when we invited them to describe "who is Sheri." In response we have decided to resurrect the monthly column. Here you will find all sorts of stories, some from my own life journey, some from women I know.

    It has been an interesting time of transition at the studio. You may be wondering why it has been quiet and there have been no classes scheduled. Well...the building the studio is housed in was sold and we have been waiting to hear if we would continue to have a home on Main Street.

    So many emotions have surfaced during these long 3 months and I feel proud to say that aside from a few tears of sadness that the current incarnation of Metamorphosis might end, I rode the waves and dove completely into the mystery. Let me tell you ladies, this is what I call PROGRESS! Ten years ago, I would have been a wreck. Frantically attempting to control all the pieces so that none of the balls would drop and shatter.

    How did I do it? Well, it has taken years of practice and learning that my first "reaction" is not always the most productive as it generally is the one that is motivated by fear. And so now, I notice my first reaction and allow it to live within me as a meditation, until I can clearly feel the place where it lives. When possible, I wait until there is absolute clarity to make the next move. If a decision can't wait, or requires and instant answer, I check in with a "grounded" friend, who I know can be honest.

    I watched the actions of my fellow building dwellers and the responses varied. Most of them appeared to be driven by fear. I chose a different path, direct communication with the source. I placed the new lease terms back in the envelope and wrote an open, letter to my new landlord respectfully requesting a counter proposal. In the end, stepping back, breathing and asking for what I wanted and not demonizing my new landlord worked!

    The Met will be there awhile longer, we are still not sure how long, but we will likely be able to let you know next month. It all looks positive and my new landlords have been great. The business continues to evolve and grow which we hope to tell you more about next month. Things are still a bit uncertain, but I am learning each day how to live in the "mystery" to trust my instincts and listen to my OWN inner knowing. Thanks for listening. Feel free to post your own thoughts on living in the mystery at the Studio Salon