Inspiration and Wisdom

The Enterprise Center at Salem State College in Salem, Ma is really on to something. Their facility is the former power plant for the college campus, beautifully renovated into offices and business space. I was there yesterday morning for a half day program entitled Million Dollar Women. The panel of 6 women plus the keynote speaker are all accomplished women CEOs of Northshore businesses with revenues in the millions.

The keynote speaker, Lois Silverman, is a petite former nurse with long blonde hair pinned up on her head. Like the rest of the speakers, she was just as approachable as you or me. She spoke quietly and gently as she told her story. With each milestone, I had to blink. This woman wasn't from some well-heeled family, prep schools or ivy league college. She never got her parchment from a top B-school. Yet, with vision, will, focus and determination, she created CRA Managed Care Inc, a 2000 employee company that helps disabled workers back to work. She became one of a handful of women ever to take a company public. She sold this multi-million dollar company in the late 1990s.

But with a personal belief that 'Everybody needs a hand once in a while." she went on to found the Commonwealth Institute - which has become a forum for helping women entrepreneurs. At the end of September, she went back to her roots and became the chairwoman of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she got her start with a $300 nursing scholarship.

Her story and her style told it all. You get a hint in the Boston Globe article September 28, 2005. The room was spellbound as she spoke. We laughed and cried and cheered with her. And she was cheering us on all the way too.

The audience at the half-day conference was dominated by women business owners with a sprinkling of men. The business wisdom from the panel was universally applicable. What made it so helpful was their honesty and authentic sharing of personal examples - that is what left the biggest impact.

Meetings, meetings, meetings

I'm sure you've been to many conferences and conventions over the years. Some are great. Some you just have to be there. Others you just don't ever want to attend again.

I was at an annual convention on Sunday which has followed the same format, the same procedures and the same results for 50 years. Needless to say, it's boring. Everyone comes to see old friends - so breakfast and lunch are the highlights of the day. Every year we are hopeful of better attendance than the last year and in the morning we get up to 80 people (out of a possible 400). However, as soon as lunch is over and the afternoon session reconvenes, the hall empties out. We all have so much packed into our schedules, and we know what will/won't happen in the afternoon session. More than 50% peel out to get home before dark or maybe get some yardwork done before dark. Stalwart members stay to support the convention, on principle.

This year, the refreshing consultation in the afternoon was around how boring the program is every year, and how much time gets wasted! It was a relief to have this undercurrent which everyone is aware of, brought to the surface with real recommendations for change. The consultation was productive, insightful and constructive. It was not emotionally charged and noone got defensive.

With real change, we can infuse the convention with real value to each member, increase participation and make every minute count. Otherwise, it's hard to justify saving the date each year any more.

In contrast, at our Toastmasters meeting last night, the officers were discussing the size of the group this fall compared to 6 months ago and what that means to how meetings are run. Toastmasters is so flexible and adaptable, you can run a meeting with as few as 4 participants and as many as 45 and still involve all attendees in the program. It's that flexibility and evolution that keep Toastmasters fresh and inviting bringing new members through every year.