Mary Foley's Bodacious Blog

Power Brokers & Smart Women

There’s a reason why I don’t read much fiction these days – because my real life has got enough stories to keep me entertained! LOL! A good example is last week. It was filled with lunch Power Brokers and Smart Women.

Last Tuesday at the Women in Business Conference in Rockville, MD I had the privilege of being the lead Power Broker at lunch with a table full of female Power Brokers. Among other things they shared one nail color name that describes them and why. You won’t be hearing such inside scoop around the table with a bunch of guys now would ya?

Thanks to Amy Gearhart, Stephanie Cromwell, Lauren Ishmael, LeAnne Stefl, and Naomi Abrams for choosing to Power Lunch with me!

Last week I also shared that I was going to the WOW! Conference for women in Richmond, VA. In addition to having a good time and being energized, I was a finalist for the Smart Woman of the Year Career Changer, someone who left one successful career and has successfully started another. Thanks to everyone who sent me a note hoping I would win. Well, dang if I didn’t win! It was such an honor to be thought of so highly by such smart women. Put a “WOW!” on my face, if you know what I mean!

I’m thrilled to be considered a Smart Woman!

I just found out 2 exciting things!

** EXCITING THING #1 **

My lunch table as a PowerBrokers at the Women in Business Conference on Tuesday, April 1 in Rockville, MD is totally booked! That means the women who signed up are serious about having a seriously good time. I think I’ll wear the nail color “Power Lunch”, which is red, of course.

If you weren’t able to grab one of the seats at my table, no worries. I’ll still be available before lunch during my book signing and after lunch at the PowerBrokers resource table.

The conference chair tells me they still have room for a few more registrations, so if you want to join in, do it now. The entire day-long conference is terrific and only $109.

And, if you plan to come, I’d love to meet you.

** EXCITING THING #2 **

A few days ago I found out that I’m a finalist for the Smart Woman of the Year in the Career Changer category! (Heather Laird of the Live Like Your Nail Color Club nominated me without telling me. Such a sneaker.)

The Smart Woman of the Year awards will be presented at the WOW! Conference celebrating Women of the Work of World next Saturday, April 5 in Richmond, VA.

The whole purpose of the WOW! Conference is for professional women to connect, to feel energized, to learn how to thrive in their careers, and to celebrate their brilliance.

All kinds of speakers are sharing their expertise on everything from leading change to managing money to finding time to having more fun in their work and life.

I’ll be feeling WOWed all day! Care to join me?

Go here for more info -- >www.smartwomansclub.com/wow.asp

They are limited to WOWing 150 women so if you’re at all curious, check this out and decide right away.

And just like the Women in Business Conference, if you plan to come to the WOW! Conference, LET ME KNOW! I’d love to meet you.

5 Stages of Holiday Grief

It's only days before The Big Day (AKA Christmas).

In my “Still-haven’t-figured-out-what-to-get-Bill” panicked state of mind, I read the following bit by my friend Lisa Earle McLeod and howled!

I think I’m in stage 4 – Bargaining – on what to get for the love of my life, other than the love of my life.

If you’re all ready for The Big Day and not sweating a drop, then stop reading right now and go on to the next e-mail.  Or better yet, can you do some shopping for me?

If you need a good laugh to resurrect your holiday sanity, read on…

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THE FIVE STAGES OF HOLIDAY GRIEF
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By Lisa Earle McLeod
www.forgetperfect.com

Where are you in the countdown?

DENIAL:
This year it will be different. I'll get the cards in the mail over Thanksgiving. My husband will help with the decorating. I'll buy all my gifts online in time for early shipping, and baking will be fun because the kids are going to help.

ANGER:
Since when am I responsible for everybody else's Christmas? Half these people don't even send us a card back, and if my husband doesn't get off the couch to help put up this tree I'm going to scream. I can't believe those bloody PTA moms had the nerve to ask me to send in "three home-baked pies" for the teachers. Don't these women have anything else to do? I hope nobody expects me to clean up all this glitter.

DEPRESSION:
This holiday has lost all meaning - I don't know why I even bother. I bet he doesn't even know what we're getting his mother. What have I done to make my children so greedy? I've probably put on 10 pounds already. Nobody in this family even asked me what I want.

BARGAINING:
If I get the gifts bought by the 22nd, maybe I won't have to pay overnight shipping. I'll put some Slice 'N Bakes on a pretty dish and it will look like I was baking. A personal phone call means more than a card to my real friends.  If I stuff myself into a body-squeezing undergarment maybe I can still get into my black dress. I'll drink one glass of mineral water for every glass of Chardonnay.

ACCEPTANCE:
I'm a tired, broke, fat woman who did the best she could. Maybe next year will be different.
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Lisa Earle McLeod is a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and the author of "Forget Perfect" and "Finding Grace When You Can't Even Find Clean Underwear."

For free chapters of "Finding Grace When You Can't Even Find Clean Underwear" go here:
http://www.forgetperfect.com/books/fg_excerpts.htm