Phenomenal Female Blogger Series One Woman Makes a Difference for Many

"Be the change you wish to see in the world," states Gandhi.
But few do.

That's why the success story of Sheila Blagg is worth sharing.
After dealing with the devastation of divorce and rebuilding her life, eight years ago, she felt there was a definite void in available information, support and resources for those sharing the same journey.

There was information out there, but it became like a scavenger hunt, trying to gather bits and pieces from an array of service providers and sources.
It became a daunting task.
So she answered the call.

Enter Divorce 2 Dating.
A new social network for divorced, separated and widowed individuals seeking to become "better, not bitter" and navigate a new path.
Members have access to attorneys, relationship and fitness experts, mediator services, chat rooms, and more.

There's even a forum for kids dealing with divorce to share their concerns and fears with other teens.

Members can also be inspired by Blagg's own experience that "love can be better the second time around."
Blagg is now happily married and a successful entrepreneur and mom.
She blogs about important relationship building issues, and provides personal insight at her site as well.

One person can make a difference. And Sheila Blagg is perfect proof!

For more details, be sure to visit Divorce2Dating.com.
Membership is $9.95 a month.


Thoughts? Questions?

Phenomenal Blogger Series

Are You the CEO of You, Inc.?
By: Susan Bulkeley Butler

It is so much fun to be celebrating Women’s History Month with all of you – a wonderful time to think about the women “pioneers” and more importantly, how we are changing the world for our daughters and granddaughters.

When I think of who I am today… wow! Forty-six years ago, I left Purdue University to begin my career with Arthur Andersen & Co.

Since then, I have been a computer programmer, a real “techie,” a business consultant, an intrepreneur (created the change management line of business), a partner at Accenture, and a managing partner of the office of the CEO of Accenture. Now, as the CEO of my Institute for the Development of Women Leader, I am impacting zillions of women and girls.

In summary, I think of myself as part of Susan B. Anthony (continuing to bring about equality for women by 2020), Amelia Earhart (dreaming big), and Gloria Steinam (changing the world for women).

So, how did all of this happen?

First, my parents said: “You can do anything you set your mind to do.” That was a good start.

One of my professors at Purdue got me started when he helped convince Arthur Andersen & Co. that they should hire me.

After a few “fits and starts,” I learned how to “make things happen for me, rather than let things happen to me.”

By this, I mean:
Determine your aspirations by continuing to answer the following question: What do you want to say you have accomplished in five years? I have proactively changed my career direction every three to five years.

Develop your team of mentors and advocates who will help you achieve your goals. These, too, will change as your aspirations change. They are mentors, advocates, role models, etc.

Create your annual plan to achieve your aspirations, including altering either one or both when appropriate.
Working with your plan every day, insuring you are making progress for You, Inc.

Two more important aspects that you must keep in mind are that you must invest time on yourself to make things happen, and you must take responsibility for who you are and who you want to be.

These steps continue to help me be who I am every day.

I am CEO of Me, Inc.

How successful are you as CEO of You, Inc.? Are you making this happen for you, or are you letting things happen to you?

BIO:
Susan Bulkeley Butler has been proving that women count ever since she rose from her roots as a small-town girl in Illinois to become the first female professional at Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1965 and later the first female partner of what would become Accenture. Now, as a philanthropist, mentor, speaker, executive coach and CEO of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders, she is serving as a delegate to Vision 2020, a groundbreaking national project focused on advancing gender equality.

Image photographer photostock

Phenomenal Blogger Series

STEPHANIE J. GATES...ON BEING GRown

Having a conversation with some of my college students recently ages 18-52; I came to understand how much of being grown is misunderstood by the masses. It was the 18 year-old of course who proclaimed her grown-ness. I chuckled to myself as I reminisced on thinking I was grown at 18, 21, 30 etc.--buying into the hype that it is a magic number that makes us full- fledged adults, full fledged women even.

For some, it’s when we take on grown-up responsibilities or do adult things like my former 7th grade student who had a baby and thought she was more woman than me. So many times I thought I was grown for real: having my heart mangled; fighting fibroids and nullifying my chances of having a baby; finishing my degrees in the midst of whatever was going on at the time; caring for and losing loved ones; knowing when to move on, when to stay, not knowing-- and living through it anyway.

There is a huge difference between being an adult and being grown: one is a number; the other is a lifetime of living. Certain expectations come with age, but how many times do we fall short? We might be adults, but can we really say we’re grown when some of us still pout and/or throw tantrums when we don’t get our way, can’t live without gossiping, passing judgment or keeping up with the Joneses. How often do we know the right thing to do, but just don’t to do it?

There are times in my life when I don’t want to take the high road or do what needs to be done. I simply want to be an irresponsible adult living my life and not answering to anyone. But that’s not real life unless you have a trust fund or your name is Charlie Sheen.

So, I have to accept the responsibility that comes with being grown as opposed to just being an adult. Grown is a place that we visit, some of us more often than others, but it is not a place of permanent residency because as soon as we’re comfortable and settled in, it’s time to move on because life is about growing through changes.

BIO: Stephanie J. Gates is an educator, blogger, editor and freelance writer. Her publishing credits include: Being Single Magazine, N'Digo, Mahogany Magazine, and several popular anthologies for women.


Image Photographer Dan