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are you a female entrepreneur or want to be one?

If the answer is yes, then I would highly recommend looking into Ladies Who Launch which "is an online and offline social network that provides opportunities for women to move their businesses and personal goals forward."  This is the first networking group I joined when girltrunks was but an idea.  I went through their incubator program which I found invaluable.  It is so important to be able to connect and share the journey of entrepreneurship with those whom are also going through it.

"Ladies Who Launch was conceptualized when Victoria Colligan (Founder and CEO) identified an underserved niche of launching ladies and made several realizations. She recognized that not only were women starting businesses at twice the rate of men, but they were driven by a need for freedom and flexibility, and, as a result, were redefining traditional business models with great success. It was on these tenets that Victoria founded Ladies Who Launch, making it distinctive from other brands. Determined to celebrate the entrepreneurial success of women at all stages, Victoria turned her passion for entrepreneurship into a thriving, sought after one-stop-shop for all things start-up. Ever resourceful, she drew upon her diverse experience in small business, law, website design, strategic partnerships, online media, marriage and motherhood to position Ladies Who Launch as a leading resource." 

Also check out her new book:

I am ALL about the tagline - "Dream it! Launch it! Live it!"  Cheers to that!

Follow @LadiesWhoLaunch and @Victoriapreneur

Posted in girltrunks stuff, products I love, worth sharing

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off we go...again

Well, here I am returning to the world of blogging after way too long – seriously, it has been over a year.  As I’ve shared before, I so struggle with this whole blogging thing but I have determined I have to give it up once and for all.  I have to stop hiding behind “I am a private person. Who really cares what I have to say?” on and on I could go with the excuses.  It’s time for me to just play full out.  Even though all this social media stuff does indeed have me flummoxed more than I care to admit - SO WHAT, right? 

I have heard from so, so many of you that have shared with me what a difference girltrunks has made in your life.  You have no idea what joy that brings me because at the core, this is what my business is all about.  As a result, I am going to get out of my own way as the possibility of making a difference in woman’s lives far outweighs my silly little hang ups.  Speaking of weight, I am adding a new category to the blog, actually all the categories are new but this one is “the 3 w’s”.  What might that be, you ask?  It will cover the oh so fun topics of Weight, Working out & Wellness - something I continually struggled with, but I haven’t given up on myself. 

This is a new beginning.  The website has been re-worked and moved to the @Shopify platform which I am really excited about.  Browse around, check out all the new lifestyle photos, media hits and the fabulous testimonials not to mention the COSE Business Pitch Competition - Shark Tank Style with Daymond John blog.  Yes, I presented my idea to Daymond John...way, way exciting!  I have even set up a Pinterest account.  I know, I know, one more social media thing to fuss over, but this one I really happen to like as I am such a visual person. 

And one last thing, on my previous website, I really was nowhere to be found, meaning there were no photos of me.  So I guess I will be changing that too.  Here I am…

I shall look forward to sharing and connecting with you on twitter, facebook and Pinterest.   

Off we go…let's have some FUN!

Posted in daymond john, girltrunks stuff, the 3 w's, worth sharing

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COSE Business Pitch Competition - Shark Tank Style with Daymond John

 It begins with receiving this in the mail…

Daymond is going to be a Keynote Speaker at the COSE Small Business Conference.  I say to myself, “I am going to get myself in front of Daymond John”.  I am an avid watcher of Shark Tank and who is more perfect to share my idea with than Daymond?

Now, I saw it going something like, “Debbie, this is Daymond.”  “Daymond, this is Debbie,” and I proceed to tell him about girltrunks.  Well…COSE had something else in mind – a Business Pitch Competition.

I had to totally go for it, and I did.  The rules of the competition were revealed and a two-page Executive Summary and two-minute video were required.  With the assistance, support and talent of wonderful people in my life, both of the “two” were completed.  Around 90 of us submitted our business ideas and the judges were choosing 20 to go into the next round.  The Top 20 would then have to pitch their idea to a panel of 10 judges.  I made it in the top 20.  What’s next?

So now I had to do a presentation.  With all my years in business, I had never done a Power Point presentation before.  I remember practicing, to make sure my timing was on target and thinking to myself, “Don’t forget to forward the slides as you are talking.”  The day arrives, it’s my turn, they hand me the remote clicker, my hands were shaking, my voice was quivering and I proceed to give my pitch.  The nervousness wore off and just like that it was done. 

Now the wait and see.  On a beautiful Friday after lunch with a friend, I checked my voicemail to find a message that I made into the Final 4.  To say I was excited was a total understatement – I was over the moon thrilled.   In the meantime, I am interviewed for an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  So now the preparation goes into pitching in front of Daymond John and a panel of judges at the kick-off event the night before the COSE SBC.  If you watch the Shark Tank you know how crazy and intense some of the questions the sharks pose to the entrepreneurs can be.  As a result, I researched and studied like a maniac.  I felt as if I was back in college before finals. 

I find out I am first to present which actually came as great news.  I am at the event, I am prepared, I go on in front of over 400 people and pitch my heart out.

The beginning of the presentation...

I was so speaking from the heart as I am so passionate about girltrunks. Love the girltrunks boxes in front of all the judges.

Sharing the unsolicited testimonial girltrunks receives.

The part I was most nervous about – the dreaded Q&A.  Every one of the judges asked me questions.  I can remember standing there with a smile on my face, listening and answering their questions, thinking to myself, “Aren’t my 7-8 minutes up already?”  To say it was intense is an absolute understatement.

Receiving the check…so exciting!

It truly was a thrill and opportunity of a lifetime.  The next day at the conference after Daymond gave his amazing and high-energy Keynote address, those of us that made it in the final four had the privilege of sharing breakfast with him.  He could not have been more gracious and lovely.  And…he’s quite the sharp dresser.  Unfortunately, girltrunks is a conflict of interest for him.  We communicated a couple of times post meeting and in the process, he offered to send me his books - The Brand Within and Display of Power which I graciously accepted.

It was a wild yet, fantastic ride.  Wonderful things have definitely come across my path from putting myself and girltrunks out there.  I thank COSE for this amazing opportunity and for all the wonderful people in my life for their unwavering love and support.

When I watch the Shark Tank now, I think, ”Oh my gosh…I actually met Daymond John…how cool is that?! “ Pretty darn cool.  If you use twitter, I highly recommend following him @TheSharkDaymond. 

Posted in daymond john, entertain...ment, girltrunks stuff

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3 generations sporting their girltrunks...

 ...on a family-beach vacation to celebrate a 50th anniversary. now...how cool is that?! 

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a little slice of heaven on the lake....

...is my friend Elaine and her husband Terry's home...LOVE! Every time I see this view as I pull in their driveway..it just puts a big 'ol smile on my face. 

And then you walk in further and this is what you see.

The home itself is the perfect size, so well appointed and views of the lake abound. The outside is equally well appointed and there is even a gorgeous weeping willow tree to create the PERFECT setting. This photo appeared in a bridal magazine from their son's wedding last year.

From weddings to TV segments...they also hosted the recent girltrunks piece on Cleveland's ABC Live on Five. Elaine is not just my friend, she is also a girltrunks model and a hip one at that!

Lee Jordan, the reporter from Channel 5, wrote that she was "...still swooning over their beautiful home on the lake"...so well put!  I have told Terry and Elaine numerous times I hope I am on the short list (actually the only one on the list) when they choose to sell their home. I know that will be years down the way but a girl can dream.  

Posted By: debbie  On: 2010-07-09 12:07:46

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