Welcome, you beautiful MAWBsters, to this month’s MAWBBlog! Each month I recap the monthly Meet Ups, both morning and evening, as well as some of the other in-person MAWB events, for all the members who are unable to attend. While the Facebook group is incredibly active (more about that later), sometimes life and other obligations make it hard to get out to the events. This blog is meant to keep everyone involved, virtually.
Welcome To The MAWB!
The MAWB is Mississauga and Area Women in Business, a networking group for women entrepreneurs from Mississauga and the surrounding communities. Whether you’re a solopreneur, an employee of a larger organization looking to expand your network, or someone with an MLM as a side hustle or your main source of income, MAWBsters, as we refer to ourselves, come together to support and encourage each other, share ideas, and foster real relationships amongst members. This is not a Buy & Sell group, in fact that approach is actively discouraged. Our group’s sensibility, as established by our Admin and MAWBBoss Christine Hull, is that people will do business with those they Know, Like, and Trust. While this is an approach that is promoted by many networking groups, it is fully embraced by the MAWB. The opening networking consists of a lot of hugs and a lot of laughter amongst friends.
Lots to Say
Most of the activity between members takes place online through the MAWB Facebook Group. The Facebook Group follows theme days, which are posted every morning. While you do get the opportunity to promote your business here, the idea is to get to know your fellow MAWBsters as people first, engage with each other, and hopefully set up some in-person meetups. Theme days include Marketing Monday, Welcome Wednesday, and Social Saturday. You can find the whole list on the MAWB Facebook Page in the Files tab, or click on the link.
Taking us through the metrics for the month of May, Chrisitine shared that membership had topped 1600 members. That’s quite an accomplishment for a group that started in its current form just over a year ago with around 50 members. There were over 1400 active members on the Page in May, resulting in an 87% participation rate. This is a phenomenal accomplishment, and it really illustrates the bonds being forged here.
Retreat Recap
The Committee for the First Annual MAWB Retreat took the floor to share what a great time was had by all attendees. Two nights of fun and partying–some of these ladies have mean karaoke skills!–and a day and a half chock full of workshops. And, I have to say, a whole lot of blogging!
But the committee ladies, Donna Smith-Major, Amber Dinda, Carrie Whiteduck, Farrah Murray Sneyd, Christine Hull, and a new addition to the crew, Jenn Hook, weren’t just there to talk about the past. They had some big news about the plans for the Second Annual MAWB Retreat. Wait for it…
MUSKOKA, BABY!!!
That’s right, ladies. A child-free weekend in Muskoka. They withheld most of the details, but here’s what we know so far: It’s the weekend of May 22–24, and we have a capacity for 70 people. Oh, and it’s in MUSKOKA, BABY! I don’t know about you, but I’m in! I don’t need any more details. Although details are definitely forthcoming. And, judging from the comments in the meeting, there’s going to be some pretty fierce competition to be the first one to register. Keep your eyes open for the registration details. You don’t want to miss out.
In terms of other upcoming events, there’s the Bullet Journaling Workshop, facilitated by Amber Dinda and hosted by Ritu Kohli-Sehti at her business, the Greater Toronto Executive Centre, and the June Daytime Meetup will be held on June 18, at our regular location at the Meadowvale Community Centre. Dates for July and August are still TBD. Christine is looking for alternate venues because there is no daytime availability in the Community Centres during the summer months.
Everyone’s a Winner
Well, not everyone’s a winner, but several lucky women go to go home with some great door prizes:
- Corinne Allain won an LCBO gift card provided by Mirella Canavan, of Canavan Real Estate Group
- Colleen Smith, aka Pockets the Clown, won some great Mary Kay products provided by Fernanda Silva
- Christine Ness won some home decor provided by Amber Dinda and her new business venture, Glen Abbey Decor
- Geeta Mungo took home some wine provided by our resident Wine Fairy, Donna Smith-Major
- Hopefully these pairings will result in some interesting coffee dates, and the beginnings of some beautiful friendships.
Breakaway
We then took a five minute break for a themed chat with one of our neighbours at the table. The goal is usually to talk with someone you don’t already know, and I was fortunate to be seated next to a newcomer to the group, Judy Zarowny (I hope I spelled your name right—I couldn’t really read my notes!), and the discussion theme was about goals. Judy is a spiritual Medium and channeller, so that was an interesting chat. We didn’t really get to goals. The rest was just too interesting.
The BELLIEF System
Our keynote speaker for this meeting was Christine Ness, The Transformation Coach. As a transformation coach, Christine helps people recognize what needs changing in their lives and then walks them through a process of how to achieve the necessary change. This process, which Christine developed when she realized she needed to make changes in her own life, is called the BELLIEF System. After 25 years in the corporate world, Christine was, by any objective measure, very successful in her career, but she had reached a burnout point and she realized she wasn’t happy with her life anymore. She went through a period of serious introspection, recognized changes needed to happen, and took the necessary steps to create more balance in her life. She quit her job, to the disbelief of many in her life and became certified as a life coach. She then refined the process she went through herself into the System she now uses with her clients.
The BELLIEF System is a guide to helping yourself by questioning your deeply held beliefs and letting go of what isn’t working for you. The process starts with examining your Life Wheel, which has five components: Health, Wealth, Work, Family, and Friends. Everyone has their own formula for balance in their Life Wheel, but you have to determine how you currently weight each of the different components, and whether it has the right balance for you. If it isn’t your ideal balance, you have to figure out what you want your life balance to be and then work towards it. The BELLIEF System has seven steps (yes, that’s an acronym, not a typo):
- Breakthrough: Challenging your deeply held beliefs and letting go of those which no longer work for you.
- Experiment: Make small changes and pay attention to the results. Stick with what works.
- Leave: Leave behind your old programming and move forward.
- Love: Love yourself, love the changes in your life.
- Intention: Find your new meaning and work towards it with intent and purpose.
- Evolve: Become who you want to be with the life you want to live.
- Faith: Believe you can get to where you want to be, with your Life Wheel in the balance you choose not the one that has been imposed on you.
Obviously, there is a lot of information here, too much for a 20-minute presentation. If you would like to learn more you can:
- Contact Christine at christine@thetransformationcoach.ca
- Check out her website www.thetransformationcoach.ca
- Follow her Facebook Page www.facebook.com/thetransformationcoach
- Or listen to the podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/christine-ness-the-transformation-coach
Reach out for a coffee date, ladies. Christine is one savvy woman, and you will leave with some valuable insights.
Final Thought
“Will you be THE ONE?”
Christine heard a story on the radio about a person who bought coffee for the person behind them in line at the Tim Horton’s drive through. Because of this gesture, 23 other people paid it forward for the person behind them. One person made the decision to be the ONE to create a MOOD. You can do it, and you should do it! What will you do to be the ONE to make change?
Enjoy yourselves, ladies! Go forth and create a MOOD!
