I join hands with you, incredible women - bright, energetic, remarkable women ---all dedicated to a common good.

We are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, wives and friends. We are teachers, mentors, students, doctors, lawyers, nurses and executives.

We have chosen a wide array of different paths; we have traveled down different roads. We have met different challenges, relied on different strengths and overcome different weaknesses.

We are short, tall, thin, zaftig, loud, soft spoken, extroverts and introverts. For some of us the path has been smooth; for some filled with potholes.

Yet, no matter what path we have taken, we have arrived at the same destination. We are women---simply wanting to help to the best of our ability. We love our family—our community and our people around the world.

We want to enable every man, woman and child—young and old---to have the resources to travel down their own personal path.

We know it is not possible to continue your journey if you are hungry, if you do not have a roof over your head, if you are isolated, if you can’t afford your medicine, if you do not know where your next pay check is coming from and if you do not have a loving hand—to pull you back on track—when circumstances force you to falter.

We want to right these wrongs. We want to help. Yes, we are the same---much more than we are different.

We are women, just wanting to help. We simply want to make the path smoother.

We give of our time, we give of our dollars. We can be found reading with under privileged children in elementary schools and sitting on boards. We volunteer at hospitals and travel to under developed countries.

We help with our hands and we give of our soul. We give of our time and we give of our dollars. We help build playgrounds and we help build confidence.
We raise our children and we raise the bar. We read Dr. Zeus and we read Annual Reports.

We have learned that:
It is NOT what we do that defines us---BUT WHO we ARE that BINDS US!

We will not rest on our laurels. Rather, we will act with integrity and purpose as we continue to expand our reach. We will do whatever it takes to stress the importance of women making a personal statement, a personal commitment to our greater needs through engagement and philanthropy.

I want to hear how you are making a difference: laura@realwomenwin.com

A common and effective fundraising tool is holding an event to attract both existing and potential contributors.

Quite often, a prominent speaker or entertainer is selected that will hopefully “draw” a crowd to the event. The “draw” may be a musician, comedian, rock group, speaker, writer or high level official. In other words, the “draw” is someone or something that will motivate people to buy tickets and attend.

Based on the budget for the event, ticket prices are set. Frequently, there are special or VIP tickets. These tickets usually cost substantially more than general admission seats and entitle the bearer to attend a “private” event with the “draw.” At these private, pre or post functions, there is often “upscale” food and beverage. There is also the opportunity to network with a small, influential group of attendees.

Much too often, at the VIP events, women are conspicuous by their absence. Unless it is an event that is strictly geared to women, we do not come out in force and show our support. Perhaps it is because they are usually held in the evening; where other responsibilities prohibit us from attending. Perhaps it is because we cannot fathom or justify spending large sums for a VIP ticket rather than the more modest general admission price.

Whatever the justification, we need to be seen as players. We need to be seen as equals. We need to represent ourselves. We need to be perceived as powerful. We need to attend the VIP event. In developing your marketing and networking budget, allow yourself the option to attend some of these events. Sometimes part of the cost may be written off. Other times, employers may pay or subsidize the ticket. The bottom line is that the cost of not attending may outweigh the hefty ticket price.

Do you attend these events? Please send me your thoughts: laura@realwomenwin.com.

Let’s be honest. All we really want to do at the end of a long, stressful day is go home, put on our pajamas and be left alone. Conversely, the last thing we want to do is go to a meeting or event in our, by now often uncomfortable, work attire to meet and mingle. Understandably, therefore, we often miss the “optional” evening networking events, fund raisers, etc. We’re tired. We do not want to have to put on our social face to go “see and be seen.”

Do it anyway. What better way to build your potential client or donor base? You are the best voice for your product, service or philanthropic cause. Your passion and conviction is what sells. Getting yourself in front of people is how you get known! It is how your build trust, confidence and passion. This is what builds relationships and clients.

So, how do you motivate yourself to go? My best tool is denial. I simply do not let myself focus on what I have to do or where I need to go at the end of the day. If I dwell or obsess over it, I will undoubtedly come up with a reasonable justification to let myself off the hook. In other words, I simply show up. The irony---95% of the time I end up having fun and meeting new and interesting people!

How do you get yourself to show up? laura@realwomenwin.com #bereal