July – This is somewhat of a lazy month.  I don’t know if this happened to you yet, but that constant drive I have to forward my business took a little detour.  I have found myself feeling somewhat like I used to feel in the late months of school wanting to play and goof off – wanting to shirk some of my work tasks.  Perhaps it was my two week vacation of sunning and reading and the onslaught of what seemed like a zillion catch-up chores that have me resisting the steadfast attention to getting things done that need to get done. We’ve already passed Second Half of the Year Day, which was July 1st. It’s been six months since you’ve made your New Years resolutions. How have you done?  What a displeasing thought at this time of year.  Since I am writing this after Independence Day, you either celebrated July 4th already or you are continuing the back yard barbeques and fireworks still today.  That’s always fun.  Today is National Fried Chicken Day and if you like to know about food traditions, click here to read all about it.   Another yummy holiday this month and one to look forward to – especially if you indulge in this tasty favorite only on special occasions – is one for which we can thank President Ronald Reagan.   In 1984, he proclaimed the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day.  Then there’s “Hot Enough For You Day” July 23rd.  I can’t find the origin of this holiday by searching the web, but it is definitely an official holiday.  It’s not too bad to think or say that this year considering the fall type weather we just experienced in June.  There is one last holiday in July, National, Cowboy Day, July 26th.  To read more about it, click here.

Welcome to our New Members: Deerfield:  Anamarie Nelson Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate Schaumburg: Sheila Henry, Thought Worthi Solutions. Optimal Level for Men:  (Glenview) Scott Hershinow, Duxler Complete Auto Care Mark Milstein, Capital Auto Body Inc. Jared Silver, Straight Shooter & Associates.  We are so excited to have the men join our Optimal Level Family!

Spotlight News - news about our members Nettie Badgley, Lisle Wow!  Nettie makes my head spin with all the volunteer work and activities she does.  We are proud of you, Nettie!  Click here to read all about the “Hometown girl who wants to make a difference.” Julie Trotter Clark, Deerfield We missed an opportunity to learn about Small Business survival.  However, I wanted you to know about a presentation Julie recently did on June 12th at IIT for the Women Business Development Center, Think Outside the Box: New Revenue Sources and Alternative Marketing Strategies.  I promise to be more timely about getting her presentations out to you.  However, I have two flyers for you so you can learn more about what dynamic work Julie does for corporations and how she would be able to help you:  Think Outside the Box and Unlock the Power of Your Thinking. Amy Riley, Chicago She is still working on her book about expectant mothers, and just successfully presented “Feel Great About Social Media Networking” with Sue Monhait, Basket Thyme and Linda McCabe, Optimal Level. We got great reviews and are so happy we could help a lot of people figure out their social media business strategy. Pat O’Connell, Facilitator - Optimal Level Pat just presented a very successful Informational Meeting at the Metropolitan Club in Chicago (What a gorgeous view!) and scheduled five appointments with women very interested in becoming members in  our 2nd Chicago location, which is scheduled to begin in late August or September. Bruce Graham, Facilitator – Optimal Level for Men Bruce accompanied Linda on an Interview with a prospective member for Optimal Level for Men and will be visiting our Lisle, July 8th meeting as a member as part of his facilitating training.  He will be facilitating our new men’s group in Glenview, starting on July 28th. Beth Ciesla, Ciesla Media Strategies, Inc. My apologies to Beth -   She sent in a news item and because I fell behind in my schedule in June, we didn’t get to it in time.  She was suggesting a productive discussion on health care at an event on June 30th called, “Improving Americans' Access to More Affordable Healthcare and Medicine.”  Beth, let us know how it went. Linda McCabe, Facilitator Optimal Level Linda has two speaking engagements scheduled in July.  One is “Improve Your Business with Brainstorming” at the Engaging Speakers meeting in Schaumburg on July 10th.  Find out how to register at www.EngagingSpeakers.com. The other is for Womens Brown Bag Series, Mount Prospect Chamber.  It is July 22nd from 12-1 at the library in Mount Prospect and she will be telling you how to “Catch a Miracle.”  For more information, click here.  . Linda is being installed, Thursday, July 9th, at the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) New Year Celebration as Director of Strategic Forums (Leads Groups and SIGS, Special Interest Groups.) For registration information, click here.

Of Interest to You A relatively new friend of mine, J.D. Gershbein, owner and founder of Owlish Communications, is sharing a wonderful article with us, THE SOCIAL MEDIA TSUNAMI.  J.D. is so popular and so busy, and I think it is because he is an Outlier. He does really great work and everyone wants some of what he offers!  J.D. gives us a powerful look at a marketing phenomenon that will be affecting everyone’s business.  This article is truly worth taking time to read!  Thanks, J.D.  I became a client of his; you might want to also.  www.OwlishCommunications.com.

Tip of the Month I am skipping this feature this month.  Instead, I want to run something past you and get your opinion.  My mind keeps bringing up an idea and you know what Oprah says about G-d’s whisper.  What do you think of an Optimal Level Expo?  I am not always a big fan of expo’s, but I haven’t been able to get this out of my mind.  We would have all the Optimal Level (and Optimal Level for Men) members display their products and services.  I am thinking of holding this in October.  I would invite, in addition to our members, past members and friends of Optimal Level who would also like to display.  I would appreciate ideas and input from you.  What do you think about this idea?  Would you like to participate?  Would you be interested in meeting all of the members and seeing up close what they do?  Would you like to be on a committee to help put this together?  I need you to respond to this call for help!  Let me know what you think.  Thanks.

Quote of the Month:  “If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful.”  Jeff Bezos - American founder, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Amazon.com.

Fact or Fiction? – The first minimum wage in the United States was 25 cents per hour.  (See the answer at the end of this newsletter.)

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Meet Another Member Program  - This is a wonderful way to network.  Who wants to meet another member?  Any one interested this month?  Go to the blog (get your password and user ID from your welcome letter or send email to Sandy,sandy@ineedashadow.com for it) and read all the profiles.  Decide who you would like to meet and let me know.  I will send an e-intro!
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Member Profiles – Remember, every member's profile is posted on www.womenbizpower.net.   Your User ID and Password are in the Welcome Letter you received in email soon after you joined Optimal Level.  If you cannot find this information, send a quick email to Sandy, a sister member and my wonderful assistant, sandy@ineedashadow.com, and she will give you this information.  This is another great way to read about all of your sister members and see if you would like to call or email her to have a conversation or get together.  An Optimal Level member mentioned to me recently that so many members have not posted profiles.  We keep asking for them.  Any suggestions how to coax those members to offer profiles?

Marketing -   Every member is welcome to market by mail, email, phone, etc. to each Optimal Level member.  Get the information by logging onto our member blog, www.womenbizpower.net.  Search here first when you want a new service or product.

Library – Would you like to borrow a book from the Optimal Level library?  Check it out on the blog and then send email letting me know which book you would like me to bring for you to your next meeting.  If you have a book out, please return it at the next meeting.

Monthly Readings – Want to get the book we are reading in future months at our Optimal Level meeting?  Go to our blog site and click on Monthly Readings.  

Referrals -   If you like Optimal Level and believe in the value you have received, please tell me who you know who would want to get the same kind of help, meet all of our members, and enjoy the camaraderie of the meetings.  Send me your suggestions along with contact information.  Perhaps you might like to call them first and let them know I will be calling them.  I so appreciate all of your referrals. Remember, 10% discount off your next enrollment if someone you refer joins Optimal Level

True or False Answer:  True  Source:  True– Source:  FunTrivia.com