Recently, I had the opportunity to spend the day strategizing with a group of smart women entrepreneurs from different parts of the world. It was an energizing day focused on topics such as effective marketing, clear messaging to attract your ideal client, time management and money.

At one point, women were expressing the challenges they face in getting everything accomplished each day including running a business, managing a family, and hopefully time to squeeze in a little self-care.

I shared with the group that when I’m in the office, I ask myself three questions to help me stay focused and directed on making money in my business:

1. Where is the potential for new business?

2. Are my private clients and groups experiencing award-winning results?

3. Have I reached out to my referral sources this week?

Discovering new business opportunities, creating award-winning client results and focusing on my relationships with referral sources are the very best ways to build a successful company for the long-term.

I noticed one woman in the group had a rather strange look on her face and at the break, I went up to her and asked if everything was OK. Her response? “I’ve never heard a woman speak so freely about making money. It’s liberating for me. I love this idea!”

As I travel around the country and meet women from different parts of the globe, this idea that money should not be discussed is universal. I had one woman tell me that she was raised with a belief that “Money is evil.” Money is not evil. What you do with the money is what matters.

This opened the door to a freeing, thought-provoking, conversation about why women need to overcome their fear of making money or having money. If your business is not making the money you desire, could it be possible it’s due to the relationship you have with money? If your business is barely “surviving” instead of “thriving” I invite you to think about creative ways you can embrace what a positive cash flow could do not only for you but the world.

To ensure that your Big Idea comes to fruition and achieves growth year after year, it’s essential that you make money in your business. I’d like to share some ideas about why women and money go together and energize your thinking about why it’s key to stay focused on making money:

1. Contributing to the well-being of yourself and your family – It’s an empowering feeling to know that your business contributes to taking care of those you love and care about. It builds confidence, self-esteem and instills the idea in your family that you are an equal partner in every area.

2. Contributing to the economy – I’m thrilled to be able to have a small team of women support me in my business and I can help them achieve their goal of working from home. I’m adding value to the flexibility and freedom in their lives.

3. Giving back - I hear from so many women the reason they started their business is because they want to give back to the charities and organizations they feel so strongly about. This has been an emotional driver for me. My desire to give back has continued to grow over the last 3 years and my dream has finally come true. This year, Smart Women Smart Solutions® is now able to make a donation to several non-profits that support women and girls worldwide from coaching programs purchased by women entrepreneurs.

I’m going to invite you to start the process of creating a consistent, positive cash flow so you can use the money to take care of what’s important to you. Stop saying, “When I have the money, I will…” and start saying, “Now that my business is experiencing a positive cash flow, I will…”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000′s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

Help! You scream as the change of another season comes and there is the newspaper headline – Real Trends for Real Women – and it has the top 10 trends for the coming season. Only 10, you think sarcastically. You read on and there is an eleventh one in there as well as five more fashion trends in another article in the newspaper supplement.

No wonder you are confused about what to buy to feel modern and look good without converting your spare bedroom into a giant walk-in wardrobe.

Here is my no-nonsense guide to help business and professional women over 40 interpret new season fashion trends.

Do Not Believe All the Words

These types of articles often tell us to forget fads and unwearable runway trends. Ten seems to be a favourite number. So off they go to find examples of how to interpret their chosen trends for the coming season. Sounds helpful but in order to get ten of them they mix trends with fads and classics.

A fad is a short-lived, one-season fashion or colour that suits only a limited number of women. It is definitely aimed at the young and slim or women who can wear that season’s particular colour.

A trend is a fashion or colour that looks good on most women and stays around for one to three years. It changes from a fad to a trend in its second year.

When a fashion suits every woman and can be interpreted in many different variations, it becomes a modern classic like crossover styles. These are the modern dressing skills that every business and professional woman needs to learn.

Fashion writers prefer to call most fashion ideas trends rather than fads because women will buy a trend. We convince ourselves that it is a good financial buy because everyone is wearing it. When someone close to you asks you why on earth you bought that, you can reply that you will get lots of wear out of it as it is a modern and trendy.

Go Beyond the Hype

When you see and read these articles, be critical and go beyond the hype. If there is a colour of the season eg gold, it is because gold is a colour that those with warm colouring can wear well. Choose carefully – gold skinny jeans are a fad whilst gold accessories are a classic look that suits most women.

Ask yourself these two questions. Will I be happy wearing this next year and the year after? Are the women whose fashion sense I admire wearing this?’ If you can answer yes, to both questions, buy them. If you answer no, put them back. Life is too short to waste money on clothes with no real value. You want versatility so you can wear the new item with a number of other clothes currently in your wardrobe.

Find the Real Treasures

The real fashion treasures are not fads or trends. They are modern classics or old classics worn in modern ways. This is where you learn and apply modern dressing skills to your professional and business dressing.

An often overlooked classic is the Trench Coat. If you do not own one, look for one in a colour other than black that will go over your dresses or skirts/pants and tops. A red or beige trench coat will look smart for years and years. Wear your old or new trench coat with a narrow or medium width matching or contrasting-coloured leather belt as an alternative to the cloth belt that comes with the coat.

Sheer material jackets are also a modern classic. They can be interpreted differently for various seasons. The material adds interesting texture, it allows the colours underneath to shine in a new light and it covers but does not completely hide your arms – good for those worried about saggy arms and wrinkles.

By all means, read and look at any article on each season’s top trends. Do not believe all the words. Go beyond the hype. Find the real treasures. Let your real personality shine.

Margaret Sims is an Image Consultant and Fashion Translator. Margaret helps quiet achieving business women over 40 shine confidently in a world of noisy experts. If this is you, visit http://thefashiontranslator.wordpress.com Blog for more fashion tips. At both the Blog and Margaret’s website – http://www.yourfuturedirection.com.au you can sign up to get the free twice-monthly newsletter and receive your free eBook and Audio – ‘Look Fabulous, Feel Confident Every Day’.

You are out with your girlfriends and it is time for lunch. Where do you go? There are lots of cafes to choose from. Will it be ethnic, organic or the café in the bookshop? In the end, you usually choose the tried and true café where you know what to expect. The lunch is nothing special.

How often do you do something similar when it comes to choosing where to buy your clothes? Back to the tried and true, usually a retail or chain store most of the time. You get clothes that look okay yet you feel that your wardrobe is full and you have nothing that you really want to wear.

It is time to become more adventurous.

Like cafes, there are dress shops everywhere. It is time to play and explore. Most of the advice in magazines is about tried and true classics or they highlight the trend of the season. The slightly different clothes that add excitement and personality to your wardrobe are often found in small, secret places.

Here are my three modern dressing tips for business and professional women over 40 to make your adventurous shopping easier.

Step 1 – Explore Your Local Suburb and the Neighbouring Ones

It is easier, closer and hidden gems are often right under your nose. Remember the feeling of excitement when you found a new coffee shop that had just opened in your local area? It is not long before you go in and taste what they offer. You cannot walk in and out. You have got to stop, have a coffee and cake and then decide if you will return.

So it is with the little dress shops in your neighbourhood. Pick a street or shopping centre to explore. Check out the ads in your local paper and make a list of new shops to visit. Stop at that dress shop you have always driven past because you have pre-judged it by its name or its location. Be daring and ask a well-dressed local where she shops.

Step 2 – Get to Know the Owner or Saleswoman

It i time to face your fear of being talked into something expensive you do not really want. Take a friend if it makes you feel safer.

Go exploring with a goal in mind – either to find a certain item of clothing or to find a new shop that stocks clothes for your work, lifestyle and personality. You are looking for a shop that also gives great service. You are over 40 and old enough to speak plainly. Age has its benefits.

Tell the saleswoman why you are there. A good saleswoman cannot help you if you do not know who you are and what suits you and your whole lifestyle. You want someone who will only suggest small changes to develop your unique style. Walk away from someone who wants you to make a radical change. She has not made a real effort to listen and understand you. If you feel comfortable with this person and you get a gut feeling that you can trust her, you will be more open to suggestions about new styles and colours to try on.

Step 3 – Expect Some Failures

Not every new coffee shop meets your expectations. You move on without feeling guilty. So it will be with exploring new dress shops. There will be some successes and some failures.

You will have to walk away from some shops. Say thank you and then politely tell them why that shop is not for you (be it the clothes or the service). Be a mature adult rather than a scared child afraid to speak your truth.

Staying with the tried and true is doing the same and expecting different results. Being a little more adventurous is about finding a new dress mentor who helps you become a more definable and shining you. Together you both enjoy sharing the adventure.

Margaret Sims is an Image Consultant and Fashion Translator. Margaret helps quiet achieving business women over 40 shine confidently in a world of noisy experts. If this is you, visit http://thefashiontranslator.wordpress.com Blog for more fashion tips. At both the Blog and Margaret’s website – http://www.yourfuturedirection.com.au you can sign up to get the free twice-monthly newsletter and receive your free eBook and Audio – ‘Look Fabulous, Feel Confident Every Day’.

Often when a couple wants to have a child following a tubal ligation they will be told they should look into IVF or in vitro fertilization. But, the question is why are they told this? Couples ask if there is any other option and they are told not really other than adoption. This is not the case and many couples have used another option that is not as widely known about as IVF.

The procedure many couples are using is what is known as tubal reversal surgery. This surgery has been used by thousands of couples all over the world and the demand is growing. What tubal reversal is actually quite easy to understand. When the tubal ligation is performed the fallopian tubes are somehow blocked. The blockage can be performed by using clips, rings, cutting the fallopian tubes and even using a method where they are burned. What happens in tubal reversal surgery is that the surgeon literally repairs the fallopian tubes. Although the fallopian tubes will not be exactly the way before the tubal ligation they are returned to “working order”. This then makes it possible for the egg and sperm to meet and result in conception. Tubal reversal surgery is a much more natural way to conceive and it is also a lot less expensive than the alternative treatment of IVF. The leading tubal reversal center located in the United States charges about $7000.

Tubal ligation reversal surgery is also much easier on the woman’s body. There is the initial surgery but after the healing time all is complete. With IVF, there are multiple medications and procedures that have to be performed. Many women need to take time out of work over the course of the procedures. With tubal reversal surgery most are able to return to work within a couple of weeks.

There are a few factors that will need to be considered when researching the surgery. The first is the type of tubal ligation that was originally performed and the age of the woman at the time of reversal. If the fallopian tubes have not been completely damaged then reversal is certainly possible. As to the age of the woman it is quite clear that the older the woman is the harder it may be to become pregnant. As long as a woman is ovulating and having menstrual cycles regularly she is still considered to be fertile. There are many women in their 40′s and over having children following reversal ligation surgery.

The experience of the surgeon should also be considered a big decision factor. The more experience the surgeon has the better the outcome of the repair. There are surgeons in the repair field that will not attempt to fix the ligations that have more damage. The surgeons with more experience have probably already performed this type of repair and have a better success rate. When looking for the right surgeon be sure to ask about their statistics. Do not be afraid to ask where there statistics come from. This is so crucial to picking the best surgeon to perform the surgery.

Debra Verville

For more information on tubal reversal visit the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website at http://www.tubal-reversal.net.

The search for eternal youth is a never ending quest. This is also why almost every ‘revolutionary’ product in the market that promises youthful appearance is lapped up eagerly by people. In the area of skin aging, wrinkles are the biggest enemy of a radiant, youthful appearance. When the collagen levels of the skin decrease with age or due to sun exposure, the skin loses its elasticity which results in wrinkles or premature aging. Even though home remedies such as the use of milk, honey, egg whites and honey may result in the skin looking smooth and wrinkle free temporarily, these home remedies fail to provide a long-lasting solution to wrinkles.

In several cases, non surgical or minimally invasive methods of removing wrinkles may provide very good results. One of the most common, and widely popular, methods of removing wrinkles is Botox. Botox injections are usually administered to the forehead or around the eye area and help to freeze the muscles, thus reducing wrinkles. The injections have to be repeated after every few months and are not known to cause any side effects.

The other popular and non invasive method of reducing wrinkles is the use of dermal fillers. In this treatment, dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Thermage are injected in the skin to augment the skin tissues in the wrinkle prone areas. So, they can be used to remove fine lines or wrinkles around eyes, mouth, forehead and chin. The results of dermal fillers last longer than botox injections. Since these dermal fillers are natural components of the skin, they cause no side effects.

Laser treatments, chemical peels and Threadlifts are the other popular methods that work wonders for wrinkle removal. Threadlifts involve the use of thin threads or sutures that are placed under the skin and tightened over a period of time to lift and pull the skin to give a smooth, wrinkle free appearance. Threadlifts are performed with the use of local anesthesia. Laser treatments involve the use of laser beams that penetrate the skin and remove the damaged skin cells and facilitate the replacement of the old skin with fresh skin. Chemical peels work on the same principle. They are applied on the skin to remove the old, damaged skin so that natural, fresh skin can take its place. The peels remove the outer layer of the skin and the healing process takes a few days.

However, for people who have deep wrinkles that do not respond to home remedies or non-surgical methods of removing wrinkles, the best options are the surgical means, or face lifts. Face lifts are performed under anesthesia and require admission to the hospital. The procedure provides long-lasting results. Under this surgical procedure, the sagging skin of the face or neck is removed, the facial muscles are tightened and the face contour is improved. Surgery may also be performed to lift the brow, sagging eyebrows and droopy eyelids.

As a candidate for any of the wrinkle removing procedures mentioned above, it is necessary to be introspective of one’s own aesthetic goals. Sometimes, it may be possible to reach the goal with a less invasive procedure, while at other times one may need to combine face lift surgery with a neck lift or a brow lift to achieve the ‘perfect’ look.

About the Author

Rashmi Kalia writes extensively on various topics related to health, beauty and fitness. Read more on her writings on Facelift Surgery in India and Gynecomastia Surgery India

When a couple is faced with an infertility problem the emotional weight they carry can be devastating. The emotional distress can cause doubt on every decision made including when it’s time to turn to an infertility center for more extensive and costly infertility treatment. Researching medical journals or on the Internet will reveal 10 or more large institutions located in major cities.

Now before thinking you have to visit a well known infertility center you really want to take a look at what is offered in your hometown or nearest large city. Your ‘local’ infertility center may have the solution to your particular infertility issue and this will remove the added stress of travel and lodging which will take time away from work as well as add to the expense of the whole procedure.

Even before you think you need In Vitro Fertilization, or ‘IVF” as it is known, make sure you have explored more common options such as various fertility medications, inter-uterine insemination where sperm is placed directly in the woman’s uterus as well as alternative methods such as acupuncture.

In-Vitro Fertilization procedures can cost as much as $35,000 so if you are not able to really afford that and can spend 6 months or so trying various alternative methods it can literally pay off in a relatively short period of time then you’ll have that extra cash to go towards baby expenses or start that college fund.

When you actually visit an infertility center remember that you are going there to see if they are the right fit for you and your situation. Make sure they are very clear when discussing which procedures and any other work they are going to do and you will want this in writing so you can avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.

Checking ahead of time with your insurance agent regarding the tests and procedures the center will perform is important so you know what your insurance company will cover and exactly what you can expect to pay out of pocket.

If the infertility center outsources certain tests or other types of lab work make sure you know which lab will be doing the work so you don’t get any surprises a few months down the road. The percentage of multiple births is also an important factor. While twins can be a cause for joyous celebration you will have two babies to care for at the same time.

Triplets will obviously be a lot more work than a single baby. There is also the cost of raising a child in dollars and cents. If you suddenly find yourself pregnant with triplets the pregnancy can be more difficult and then there is the work load and cost of raising three babies simultaneously.

When you are dealing with an infertility problem it can be very personal and you might feel intimidated at times but you need to force yourself past that and ask any and all questions you have no matter how ‘stupid’ they might seem. You need to know!

One other problem you might have is when you are questioning an infertility center they might not be totally forthcoming when giving you answers. An infertility center is a business just like any other and is expected to return as high a profit as possible.

You can ask about similar couples with the same issue you are facing and what the success rate is and you can also ask to speak with the staff of the infertility center and while they are obviously not going to say anything bad about where they work you can get a ‘feel’ for them.

Despite the emotional roller coaster you may find yourself on you need to stay calm and make the best decision possible.

Jenny Lantz has been faced with infertility and provides information on choosing an infertility center and other issues regarding infertility problems at her blog titled: Treatment Infertility