Here is a little overview of the book:

You have checklists to get things done.  You have checklists to keep appointments.  You have checklists to remind you of important dates.  Do you have checklists to save your business?  Lists That Saved My Business is the compelling story of Angel Tuccy and Eric Reamer and how the found success for their company, Experience Pros, LLC.  Angel and Eric will help you create a revolution in the way people treat people in business, starting today… with the customers you already have!

We will be having our call on Tuesday nights during the month of September to discuss chapters in the book each week. We will chat for 1 hour each week. Our first discussion will be be on Tuesday, September 14th at 8:00 p.m. So put the kids to bed or find some personal time for yourself and share what you are learning with other like minded women. Call in to as many of the dates as you are able. Join our discussion at any time during the month.

September 14- Chapter 1 – 6

September 21- Chapter 7-13

September 28- Chapter 14-20  Last night and wrap up. Help us choose the next selection!

Order your copy online here:  Amazon

To access our book club:

Dial into our Conference at (712) 451-6000 use those free long distance minutes on your cell phone!

Enter access Code 531327#

Business: Mary Kay Cosmetics

Mom to: 2 beautiful children

Website: www.MaryKay.com/FranzK

Give us a brief description of your business: Mary Kay cosmetics is the number one selling brand of skin care and color cosmetics in the country. We have high quality product that the company stands behind with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you have an issue then you have the options to return, exchange or receive a full refund.

What is the best part about being a mom? My children. They are everything to me and my life is better in every way because they are in it. I treasure every moment with them and I constantly thank God for the honor of being their mother.

What inspired you to start your business or go into your industry? I fully believe in the high quality of the product I sell. I had used the products for several years and I started my business because I wanted to share it with other women so they benefit from the product as well.

Who is your target audience? Anyone with skin. No seriously. We have products for young women, for women who are not concerned with aging, for those very concerned with aging and even a mens’ line since their skin is so different from ours.

How long have you been in business? 9 yrs

What makes your business unique? Mary Kay Inc is all about supporting women. The company has a very generous rewards program that allows consultants to earn prizes quarterly. More importantly, at our local meetings even small accomplishments are celebrated. The caring attitude of the company extends to the community as well. The Mary Kay Ash Foundation works tirelessly to fund cancer research and to end domestic violence. They are constantly expanding their environmental work as well.

Do you have a tagline you use with your business? Women helping women

What did you do prior to your business now? I was lucky enough to be involved with several industries; insurance claims, collections, marketing and, my favorite, technical support. Each gave me a wonderful education in business and professional dealings.

What is the greatest source of clients for your business? Currently I am driving my business with contacts I have made through Mommy Meeting and our events. Momporium, the Aspen Grove movie nights, fellow Mommy Meeting members. Being a part of this group has really helped me grow my business the last two years.

Describe what your ideal workday consists of? I try to spend an hour or two completing computer work. This is made wonderful because my son spends this time with me while entertaining himself. In afternoons I make some calls while my daughter naps. I try to reserve my appointments for a few evenings a week and one weekend day. It is always a balance between my desire to share my product and my main job of being mom and wife. I am lucky to be able to have on-the-go appointments which allow me to share Mary Kay in a few minutes while at the park or store.

What have been some of your major successes? When I first went into business I was able to quickly build a strong team. Working with these women as they shared Mary Kay was very rewarding. My team today is different and yet no less enjoyable to work with.

What have been some of your major challenges? I am very shy by nature.  One of the things I love about my business is that I am constantly learning  that I can do more than I give myself credit for. I struggle to work outside my comfort zone but each time I do so successfully I add another layer of confidence. Building a business is difficult when you are too shy to tell people about it. I’ve pushed myself to grow so I can keep enjoying the MaryKay life.

On tough days, what motivates you to keep going? My unit. I can talk to my director or my local unit leader and either one will remind me of what I have done and what I can do. I always say that attending my unit meetings is like therapy. You can’t help but leave energized and ready to share our product, no matter how down and depressed you might come in feeling.

What is the biggest mistake you made that taught you something inyour business? I made a very large purchase of stock during my first year.  Some of it was never sold and I took a large loss. I have learned to evaluate major business decisions and I only commit to what I am ready and able to follow through on. It also taught me that there are options. I could have used the product as samples; given it as thank you gifts and many other options.  There are ways to turn a negative into a positive if you just look for it.

What is your best piece of business advice everyone should follow? Celebrate your accomplishments. It is easy to get discouraged when times are slow. We need to remember that this is a normal part of doing business and that we can work our way out of it over time. If we celebrate the small sales we are less inclined to let the major goals weigh on us. Small accomplishments add up to big business if you keep working.

Describe your first “woohoo!” business moment? I met a woman at a bridal show and set up an appointment with her. That turned into a really fun party with her and a few friends, one of whom became a team member and another who I still do business with all these years later. I learned that I can build lasting relationships while building my bank account.

Where do you draw from for inspiration? My faith, my family and my Mary Kay director. Through my faith I look at my inner self and see the potential God has given me. My husband is an amazing man who supports me and can give me honest feedback even if it is difficult. My director built her business starting when she was pregnant and it has allowed her to help support a family of five for 18 years. Each shows me how great I can be.  When your toddler tells you that you have done a great job you find yourself wanting to do an even better job so they can continue to be proud of you.

Do you have a favorite motivational quote? “Consult not your fears, but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you have tried and failed at, but with what is still possible for you to do.” -Pope John XXIII

Tell us your favorite business book you have read? “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy This book has advice on tackling the hardest things first and following through on the rest. Its common sense approach is one that appliesto daily life as well as to business.

If there was one piece of advice you could give to your children about running a successful business, what would it be? If you are going to succeed in business then you need to have a passion for your product or service.

What is your secret in balancing business and family? My family always comes first. If I need to adjust my practices to fit some business in during playdates or running errands then I will do that. If my family needs don’t even allow for that then I put business aside until I am able to find time to address it. If you set goals then you can keep working towards them even if the pace is slower due to your family needs.

Do you have a favorite business tool and/or resource you use? The library. You can find a wealth of information there and it’s all FREE! Now that’s a smart business decision.

What is next for your business? Team building. Using the pay it forward method I feel that this will allow me to make the most impact on Mary Kay Inc and in the lives of women who don’t yet know what they are missing.  This will also give me a solid source of income while taking the least amount of time from my family. I consider those to be two tremendous benefits.

Paws & Claws will kick off at 11 a.m. with (9) pet-adoption agencies, pet-themed vendors, a Children’s Art Contest, Best In Show and more.  The feature event – Runway Rescue – will begin at noon. The fashion show will pair adoptable pets with models showcasing exciting fall fashions from Aspen Grove’s retailers, strutting their stuff and wagging their tails down the runway.  All pups and cats will be available for adoption at Aspen Grove throughout the event.

Aspen Grove will host a variety of pet-themed activities including the Best In Show Contest with prizes! Pooch-less humans, shoppers, families, animal lovers and pets are all encouraged to come out, enjoy the event and support these charities that bring so much joy to rescued animals and the families they complete.

There will be a Children’s Art booth at the event.  Children can enter to win the Aspen Grove “My Friendly Dog” Art Contest.

Thursday, Sept 2nd 8:30pm
Exclusive PreSale to shop BEFORE the public at the Just Between Friends of Douglas County
The Nation’s leading Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sales Event
Douglas County Fairgrounds, Castle Rock
(1 mile east of I-25 and exit 181)

HOW TO ATTEND: Register online at www.douglascounty.jbfsale.com and write in the referral box “Mommy Meeting”, print and bring your confirmation email as your presale pass. If you forget it, bring a photo id to find your name on the Mommy Meeting entrance list.
See you at the sale!

Business: Chunka Munka Cookie Company

Mom to: 4 children ages 5- 12 years old

Website: www.chunkamunkacookies.com

Give us a brief description of your business: Chunka Munka Cookie Company offers gourmet jumbo-sized cookies for the cookie lover and gift lover! We ship and deliver (in the south metro area), making your gift giving experience easy and fun! Our cookies are baked to order and are never filled with unnecessary chemicals or preservatives. With over 35 yummy flavors, Chunka Munka is always fresh and exciting.

What is the best part about being a mom? I love seeing the world through the eyes of a child. The world is a big beautiful place and my children are all so happy and inquisitive.

What inspired you to start your business or go into your industry? I love being a part of people showing gratitude.  When you give a gift like cookies, the happiness spreads like wildfire. I love being a part of bringing joy to the world, one cookie at a time.

Who is your target audience? Individuals and businesses that give gifts. About 70% of my clients are corporate clients that show gratitude to other businesses. The remaining part of my clients are people that truly love my cookies and the variety of flavors I can provide.

How long have you been in business? Almost two years

What makes your business unique? Chunka Munka Cookie Company provides a personal approach to every order. We don’t bake until we hear from you! We talk through each order with our clients to make sure you are getting exactly what you want and that the recipient will receive the true Munka Love experience.

Do you have a tagline you use with your business? It’s A Mouthful

What did you do prior to your business now? I worked in the corporate world at the Federal Reserve for 10 years.

What is the greatest source of clients for your business? I receive the most amount of business through networking events with the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.

Describe what your ideal workday consists of? My perfect work day would be creating and baking cookies for a couple hours, delivering a few orders and seeing smiling faces of people surprised by a gift, a fun networking event getting to describe my business to friends and then relaxing with my children as they nibble on their own Chunka Munka bits of love!

What have been some of your major successes? After four months of being in business, I was able to sustain the business with sales and not have to re-invest in the company. I have had complete control of the growth of my business allowing me time to be a mom to my four children. Being my own boss is so empowering and I love it.

What have been some of your major challenges? Because my cookies are made to order, sometimes I don’t have much time to plan. I always try to do what I can for my clients and often that means I need to juggle my own schedule.

On tough days, what motivates you to keep going? The fact that my children are proud of their mom and her owning her own business is the daily motivational record in my head. I keep going knowing that what I’m teaching them through my determination is a great lesson.

What is the biggest mistake you made that taught you something in your business? I don’t think I’ve made too many mistakes and certainly nothing too big. I’ve made decisions or had ideas that didn’t turn out right. As long as I don’t make that decision again, I’ve learned something!!

What is your best piece of business advice everyone should follow? Don’t be afraid to show your passion for your business. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you aren’t excited about what you do, you can’t expect anyone else to be either.

Describe your first “woo hoo!” business moment? I had been involved in the Chamber for about one year and met a new businessman in the technology industry. I introduced myself as the founder and owner of Chunka Munka Cookie Company. He was impressed because he had seen my brand around, heard about the company and assumed it was a national franchise. He said the “presence” of the company was so polished and professional. I felt so good knowing that the entire company is ME…one very strong powerful businesswoman!!

Where do you draw from for inspiration? Everywhere! I love to create flavors that are shocking but flavorful for people that love food like I do. I am very proud of my Bananas Foster cookie. A renowned chef tasted it and told me, “You NAILED it!!” That inspires me to keep creating amazing cookies for the highest critics!

Do you have a favorite motivational quote? My motivational quotes are from my clients and recipients of the cookies! I love that two different clients told me that I need to give a cigarette with each Blueberry Oatmeal cookie…it’s THAT good! I love that when I deliver cookies to a business the receptionist turns into a little kid and immediately starts thinking how many she can hide in her desk without getting busted! Those words motivate me.

Tell us your favorite business book you have read? I try not to get bogged down by the way OTHERS would do business. This is my life, my business, and my family. I’m really the only one that can make it succeed or not. Having said that, I DO try to surround myself with individuals much stronger than me. Whether I develop friendships with them and “pick their brain” or I hire them for their expertise, I surround myself with people that do something better than me!

If there was one piece of advice you could give to your children about running a successful business, what would it be? Do something you feel passionate about. Make a difference in the lives of others. Do it to the best of your ability and hire out the rest.

What is your secret in balancing business and family? Balance has to be a goal for life. There are some days or some weeks I don’t feel in balance with either one. But at the end of time, it only matters that I did my best with each overall.

Do you have a favorite business tool and/or resource you use? My favorite business tool is Facebook. It’s free and I can communicate quickly to a large group of people that actually WANT to hear my message. I have contests, ask questions, disseminate information, publish events, etc. I love my Facebook fans and hearing from them!

What is next for your business? Chunka Munka Cookie Company is growing rapidly. It is very exciting to be in the stage of rapid growth. We hope to be available at certain locations that make sense for our market in the next 6-12 months. Showing gratitude is so important for all businesses. During difficult economic times we all look for ways to stand out and to be remembered. Giving Chunka Munka cookies is helping businesses to stand out and be remembered and we love that!

The Eat Pray Love Mommy Mingle was a huge success!  We enjoyed having over 40 moms attend the event.  Look for additional Mingles to be announced soon!

Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts Extravaganza…. Hosted by Mommy Meeting/Aspen GroveLifestyle Center/ShopStar and Regal Cinemas Riverpoint Stadium!

Tarragon Aioli

1 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped

1 Tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

2 tsp white wine vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients above and process until smooth. Keep chilled until ready to use.

Grilled Whole Fish in Pancetta

4 whole fish, about 1 lb. each, cleaned (I prefer trout, but feel free to substitute bluefish, whitefish, snapper … whatever you can catch!)

½ cup fresh tarragon

½ cup fresh thyme

½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley

4 cloves garlic, crushed

good quality extra virgin olive oil

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. thinly sliced pancetta

Preheat grill to medium heat. If using a charcoal grill, arrange coals so that fish cooks over indirect heat.

To prepare fish, rinse well and pat dry. Rub cavity with a small amount of olive oil, then sprinkle salt and pepper inside, rubbing to distribute. Place equal amounts of fresh herbs and one crushed garlic clove into the cavity of each fish. Repeat oil and seasoning to outside of fish and wrap loosely with the pancetta (head and tail should remain exposed). Fish can be chilled at this point until ready to cook.

Place fish on grate of grill and cook until opaque, about 10-15 minutes total, turning only once halfway through cooking. Pancetta will be crisp and fish will be moist in the center.

Serves 4

A Wild Thyme provides the very best in catering and event planning services for private and corporate clients in the Denver area.  Reach them at:

Phone: 1 720 635 2847

Mail: info@awildthyme.com

Email Etiquette

Every email should have all your contact information (full name, title, logo, address, phone, email, fax). If your email is forwarded or printed out, you want to be sure your contact information follows the paper trail, or e-paper trail. If you send something worthwhile, the hope is that your message will be forwarded. Make sure people can contact you.

The cc: field is to be used sparingly. It’s confusing to most people. When you put someone’s name in the cc: field, it means that you want them to be aware of the information, but you aren’t expecting them to respond. Though, recipients might not know who is supposed to act on the message. When responding to a cc: message, include the other recipient in the cc: field as well because they’ve already been brought into the conversation and confusion abounds if you leave them out now.

Include the original message thread included in your reply email. There are too many details being shared via email and to make sure everyone knows what you’re responding to, you have to include the original notes. This saves everyone frustration from having to search out previously related emails for the information.

Quickly respond. Customers send an email because they wish to receive a quick response. If they don’t get a quick response from you, they will most likely contact your competitor. Each email should be replied to within twenty-four hours, and preferably within the same working day. If the email is complicated, quickly send an email back saying that you have received it and that you will get back to them. This will put the customer’s mind at rest and usually customers will then be very patient with you.

Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Improper spelling and grammar gives your company a bad image. Your program has a spell-check function. You can turn it on to automatically spell check your emails before sending. This minor inconvenience will no doubt save you from embarrassment down the road.

Each email should focus on a single topic. If you have to discuss several topics, send multiple emails, each with their own subject line so each person can recall the information later. Use short paragraphs and short sentences to make it easier for the recipient to read.

Templates are a real time saver for repeated information such a directions and how-to enroll in your seminars. This ensures a consistent customer experience and saves you time when you save the text is a word document or a pre-formatted email.

The To: field is not the field to use when sending an email mailing. Some people place all the email addresses in this field but there are two downsides to this practice: (1) the recipient knows that you have sent the same message to a large number of recipients, and it’s not personal, and (2) you are publicizing someone’s email address without their permission. One way to get round this is to place all addresses in the Bcc: field. However, the recipient will only see the address from the To: field in their email, so if this was empty, the To: field will be blank and this might look like spamming. You could include the mailing list email address in the To: field, or even better, if you have Microsoft Outlook and Word you can do a mail merge and create one message for each recipient. A mail merge also allows you to use fields in the message so that you can address each recipient personally. For more information on how to do a Word mail merge, consult the Help in Word.

End your email with a link to your website. Your email signature can offer a link to something of interest or value to the recipient. Once there, have a call-to-action that brings them further into your sales process.

Email is a great way to answer questions and to anticipate further questions. If you do not answer all the questions in the original email, you will receive further emails regarding the unanswered questions, which will not only waste your time and your customer’s time but also cause considerable frustration. Moreover, if you are able to anticipate relevant questions, your customer will be grateful and impressed with your efficient and thoughtful customer service. Imagine for instance that a customer sends you an email asking which credit cards you accept. Instead of just listing the credit card types, you can guess that their next question will be about how they can order, so you also include some order information and a link to your order page. Your customers will appreciate this.

Email can be a powerful relationship building tool to connect with your customers, if it’s used in a genuine way. Attempt to make your emails as personal as possible. Use the active voice of a verb wherever possible. For instance, ‘We will process your order today’, sounds better than ‘Your order will be processed today’. The first sounds more personal, and email has the tendency to take on an impersonal and unnecessarily formal tone.

Angel Tuccy considers herself to be an entrepreneurial muse who loves to write, read and travel with her family. She is the founder of Experience Pros University, the co-author of the book Leading The Revolution and the host of a daily radio show on AM560 KLZ.

For sixteen years, Angel Tuccy has successfully juggled the roles of working mom and business owner. She speaks each month at her local Chamber of Commerce and runs a professional women’s support group called Ladies Who Lunch.

This cycle of rushing and squeezing in meals and snacks is epidemic for moms who are always on the run. With the shift change from full time day job to often just as full Mom job, the extra energy to gather and prepare a meal can feel like another separate job in itself. Who wants to take that on? Even more unfortunate is the fast and packaged junk you might opt for, simply, is wearing you out!

Well, as a mom who completely lives this busy life of juggling multiple jobs; day, night, mom, wife, house…oh yes,…and dinner, I have devised a bunch of handy habits that help me to keep on track. These simple tips keep my energy levels high enough to manage all my tasks, bonus – with a clear head. How?

1. I quit drinking coffee – I drank coffee for over 20 years, every single morning, mid-morning, and often mid-afternoon.  Caffeine has you pulling energy from your body that you don’t actually have and can cause adrenal fatigue.
2. I drink more water – I drink a lot of water during the day. It keeps me from reaching for foods that aren’t nourishing. Adding more water to your day will keep your body hydrated, eliminating headaches, and extra stresses on your body.
3. I eat dark leafy greens – this is my biggest secret. These veggies are loaded with nutrients, are easy to prepare and are versatile enough to put on and include in every meal of the day! If you don’t like spinach, it’s okay, there are over 30 varieties of dark leafy greens!
4. I use natural sweeteners – avoid sugar, and artificial sweeteners! I use gentler, natural sweeteners like honey, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, and molasses.
5. I take time for me  – at the end of the day, taking even ten minutes out for myself changes the entire composition of my mood, my energy and my focus. You might choose to sit quietly and watch the sunset, do yoga or meditate, maybe even journal.

These tips are just a few of the many I give my clients. Nourishing yourself will give you the ability to nourish those you love in your life! Getting your body back in balance can help ease the stresses of the day to day juggle, help you to feel more focused, and best of all, have the energy to stay on top!

For more tips, tricks, and recipes for living a healthy life, follow The Nourished Life on facebook, or visit my website at www.thenourishedlife.net.

Tammi Hoerner, Holistic Health Counselor, helping YOU reach your health goals, one step at a time!

Here is a little overview of the book taken from google:

Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval have moved to the top of the advertising industry by following a simple but powerful philosophy: it pays to be nice. Where so many companies encourage a dog eat dog mentality, the Kaplan Thaler Group has succeeded through chocolate and flowers. In The Power of Nice, through their own experiences and the stories of other people and businesses, they demonstrate why, contrary to conventional wisdom, nice people finish first. Turning the well-known adage of “Nice Guys Finish Last” on its ear, The Power of Nice shows that “nice” companies have lower employee turnover, lower recruitment costs, and higher productivity. Nice people live longer, are healthier, and make more money. In today’s interconnected world, companies and people with a reputation for cooperation and fair play forge the kind of relationships that lead to bigger and better opportunities, both in business and in life. Kaplan Thaler and Koval illustrate the surprising power of nice with an array of real-life examples from the business arena as well as from their personal lives. Most important, they present a plan of action covering everything from creating a positive impression to sweetening the pot to turning enemies into allies. Filled with inspiration and suggestions on how to supercharge your career and expand your reach in the workplace, The Power of Nice will transform how you live and work.

We will be having our call on Tuesday nights during the month of June to discuss two chapters in the book each week. We will chat for 1 hour each week. Our first discussion will be be on Tuesday, June 1st at 8:00 p.m. So put the kids to bed or find some personal time for yourself and share what you are learning with other like minded women. Call in to as many of the dates as you are able. Join our discussion at any time during the month.

June 1- Chapter 1 and 2

June 8- Chapter 3 and 4

June 15- Chapter 5 and 6

June 22- Chapter 7 and 8

June 29- Chapter 9 and 10 Last night and wrap up. Help us choose the next selection!

To access our book club:

Dial into our Conference at (712) 451-6000 use those free long distance minutes on your cell phone!

Enter access Code 531327#