– Jane
· · · Jane’s Thread · · ·
Anna Deavere Smith
I had the good fortune yesterday to see a preview performance of this extraordinary woman's new show Let Me Down Easy. Anna Deavere Smith embodies over 20 different characters and ...explores the power of the body, the price of health, and the resilience of the...
Connecticut’s Got Talent!
(Illustration by Maggie Swanson) Today is the opening of the Artsy Girls exhibit at the Pierce Ball Gallery in Stamford. The Hour, my local newspaper, gave us an incredible write-up with illustrations in yesterday's paper. I'll be at the gallery today from 1 - 5...
Networking at Sweet Rexie’s
Nanci Lewis, owner of Sweet Rexie's in South Norwalk, graciously opened her candy emporium Tuesday night to my Remarkable Women's Network. After the round of self-introductions and success updates, we broke into small groups for speed-networking solutions. The...
The Tiffany Bag Principle
Every woman I know recognizes the impact of receiving a turquoise box with a white satin ribbon around it tied in a bow. The message is that someone has gone to the very best jewelry store in the world and selected a gift for you. It almost doesn't matter what's in...
Susan Keane Baker, Friend and Mentor
I was looking forward to meeting Susan this morning for an hour-long walk/talk at the old Norwalk High School track. We've previously met and walked on downtown streets, but knowing how deeply intense and focused our conversations are, I suggested that we just walk...
Life’s Left Turns
I heard a familiar refrain this week. Something along the lines of, "Since I never heard back from "x" prospect, I decided to enroll in a course I'd been thinking of taking. I really got a lot out of it, and am moving forward in this new direction." Substitute any...
I Know What Scares Me
Yesterday my neighbor stopped by with some home-grown cherry tomatoes and a warning. "I noticed that the leaves on that tree in your front yard were turning color before the season. Then, I saw that a huge limb was broken and is hovering over the power lines." Not...
“Be Opinionated” Like Pamela Slim
That was the message that stayed with me after hearing Pamela Slim speak yesterday at the EWN meeting--the season opener attended by nearly 100 women (a few guys, too) business owners. She is the author of Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to...
Bob Proctor’s Message
A good friend recently lent me an audio file of It's Not About the Money by Bob Proctor*. Driving to and from my speaking engagement in Natick, MA last week afforded me quality and quantity listening time. I heard the entire book on that expedition--about 5-6 hours...
I’m So Proud!
Liz Ball, an extraordinary women in many ways, is among other things the owner of the Pierce Ball Gallery. We sat down together last spring to talk about the idea of exhibiting the work of the Artsy Girls, of which Liz is a member, in this beautiful space....
My Great Grandfather’s First Day of Business
There was a legendary story in our household about my great grandfather's first day owning a barbershop in the Bronx. At the end of a very disappointing Monday he compared notes with a competitor down the street. "I didn't have one customer all day," my great...
Dr. Candy Brush – Babson College
I had the most amazing opportunity this morning! As Speaker Chair for the upcoming WBDC Breakfast, I got to connect our stellar interviewer, Becky Surran, with our featured guest, Dr. Candida Brush, Division Chair in Entrepreneurship at Babson College, via phone...
A Vision Realized
On Monday night over 30 women gathered at the magnificent Eileen Fisher store at the Westchester in White Plains, NY. These were women business owners who came from three states (NY, CT and NJ) to meet other remarkable women and exchange ideas and inspiration. Here...
Get A Discount, You Smart Woman!
On October 1 I will have the privilege of addressing all the women attending the Convention for Re-Invention--a day long program put on by Idea Group Productions at Water's Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT. I'll be sharing many of the lessons I've learned as a...
What I Did On My Summer Vacation
August was all about doing things differently and taking time off from my business. In July I let my clients know that our next appointments would be in September, then made plans that took me in other directions. My three big away-from-my-routine outings were:...