Dear Smart Women,

Welcome to all the new Smart Women Members this week! So happy to have you as part of the Smart Women FamilyCassidy as well as the brand new wealth and health blog posts.

In the Health section I share a video of the 1st woman to ever regrow her own breast after a mastectomy using her own stem cells. And I think you will recognize this smart woman pioneer right away.

What’s Coming Up at the Smart Women’s Institute

Ultimate Business Building & Implementation Program

Have you ever wanted a coaching and implementation program. For years, I’ve coached and ran masterminds only to leave all the implementation to the client. For the first time in our industry, we will be offering a full program that includes coaching, info products, one-on-one branding strategy, and then our SmartWomenTeam.com division will then build everything you need (website, social networks, newsletters, and more!) and also implement your marketing for the first three months. I can’t wait to help brilliant women live their WHY and make money doing what they love A LOT FASTER. Stay tuned for all the details in the coming weeks and be the first to sign up for this program.

Take Care!

Sheri McConnell

Smart Women’s Institute™

http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com

This “intro” was taken from our latest newsletter. Not getting our newsletter? Sign up by clicking on “Grab Your Smart Tools Now” at the TOP of this page and you’ll also receive a free membership!

Q: When did you realize your big WHY?
A: I was driving in traffic in LA (stuck, actually) and muddling over a conversation I’d had with my best friend and thinking about what my next steps were because I wasn’t happy at my corporate job. It literally hit me and I knew I HAD to do it! I knew I wasn’t the only woman working hard and having barely any time or energy for a personal life, let alone a family (which was nowhere near in the picture at that age!), so I committed to building a company that made women’s lives easier (specifically, busy professional women trying to balance it all) and that empowered the women who worked with me as well.

Q: How and when did you make living your WHY a reality?
A:  Two weeks later I’d given my notice and so a month later I was on my way. I started by building the foundation and getting the pieces of the puzzle in place – all the paperwork, etc. that needed to be filed and then just started networking and marketing and inviting all of my friends to be on my newsletter list! It’s been a slow and steady process with lots of personal growth and so many amazing clients who I HAVE been able to help make their lives a bit easier.

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far about living your WHY?
A: You have to have a support system around you that can remind you WHY you’re doing this because it’s not always an easy road to travel, but it’s so much more fulfilling. And always read your client’s testimonials when you need a pick me up and reminder of your ‘WHY.’ But mostly, even as a solo-preneur, you’re never alone if you have a great support system that gets it. If I may expand into an extension of the lesson, it’s that while you’re learning and growing and evolving, some people may fall out of your life and that’s OK. They don’t get it now, maybe some day they will, but you need people around you who are at a frequency that supports you instead of brings you down.

Q: What is coming up next for you?
A: My clients are high six figure earners plus, but my goal has always been to make fashion and working with a stylist approachable and accessible, so I’m launching an online shopping site in the next few months that does just that. I’m a little bit excited about it. It’s kind of revolutionary!

Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your life in a positive way.
A: Wayne Dyer changed my life. I was working in the Fashion Industry, but in accounting as a way to get my foot in the door and my dream job was to be a merchandiser. It’s not easy to get a merchandising job – most people go back to school to get a second degree or study it specifically in undergrad. The Power of Intention and his comments on doubt made a light-bulb go off. 2 weeks later I got my merchandising job at BCBG.

As I continue my education and I LOVE to read, I’ve found Edwin Gaines, Napoleon Hill, etc. and I also love to read one of my clients writings, actually. Christine Kane has such a powerful way with words and she uses so few. But I always go back to Wayne Dyer.

Q: What excites or ignites your soul?
A: When women get excited about their new outfits and clothes (often just from their closet) when we’re working together. They get downright giddy and I love it! More than that, they have this new confidence in themselves as they have new confidence in their style. It’s electric and it makes me so happy. Otherwise, Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and curling up with a cup of tea and a good book when I’ve just woken up. No need to rush into the day!

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About this section: Each week we feature one of our Smart Women Book SeriesTM authors. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter and on our blog permanently, click here: http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com/2011/12/become-an-author/

One of the many reasons I am so grateful for the Internet is that the information isn’t as restrained as the information the media decides to report on in traditional outlets.

For example did you hear that the 1st ever woman in the United States was able to regrow her breast that was taken by cancer with her very own stem cells. That woman being none other than health pioneer, Suzanne Somers. Check out her video below. Bravo to Suzanne for continuing to step up and step into her WHY each day and help Smart Women.

I just returned from Miami after a kick-butt mastermind meeting with these 7 figure smart women: JJ Virgin, Jackie Hicks, Pamela Bruner, and Annika Rockwell.

While I was there, I received just what I needed as I always do when I set the intention to receive and listen. (I don’t always do this well, but I try!)

In honor of one of the many goals that came out of the meeting I want to talk about your Internet Business Metrics. (And thanks for the push on this Jackie!)

Now stay with me and don’t click away….

When you learn what metrics to look at, as well as how to talk about them and leverage them, they get pretty darn sexy.

I have to admit, over the years I’ve gotten really good at learning how to leverage my financial numbers (traditional metrics) as well as my database and social networks.

Now it’s time for me to leverage our internet business metrics too.

So What Are Internet Business Metrics?

Traditional business metrics include ROI (return on investment), customer churn rate, and Profit and Loss. These are more of the financial metrics that you can see and track in Quickbooks.

What I want to talk about today is those online metrics you can leverage. And you can track most of these using Google Analytics plugin right in WordPress.

Here are some metrics you need to know and track:

• Visits
• Page Views
• Average Time On Site
• New Visitors Percentage
• Most Popular Posts
• Top Referrers
• Top Searches

Remember the golden rule of metrics – “What Gets Measured, Grows”

If you want to dig deeper and learn more about metrics… make sure to post your questions on our blog.

Dear Smart Women,

Welcome to all the new Smart Women Members this week! So happy to have you as part of the Smart Women Family!

A big big congrats to all the Smart Women that help make Smart Women Live Their WHY the #1 Bestselling Consulting book on Amazon last week! This is the second time in two years that Smart Women have used their buying power to catapult a female authored book right through the male dominated publishing ceiling. The top 25 spots in business books are held by men about 99.7% of the time. This has to change. Once of my goals this year is to write the next NY Times Bestselling business book for mainstream women. I want to help pave the path for more balance in the information getting to the public. Mainstream women need to learn what we are teaching ladies.

On that note… Want to be author in our next book? THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE to sign up. Hop on over to http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com/2012transitionbook and check out the details. (This is the last time we will offer this opportunity for at least the next 2 years)

Is someone holding the space for you? I sure hope so.

I am leaving for Miami in the morning for my first mastermind meeting of the year with JJ Virgin, Pamela Bruner, Annika Rockwell, and Jackie Wicks. I have participated in masterminds for years with many of the leaders on the Internet today. Having vibrant, smart, brave, courageous, business women hold the space for me is absolutely the reason I am successful. They kick my butt and understand common blind spots and growth spots. And they are full of resources because they are successful also. Don’t forget to make networking with other women who have profitable businesses a priority this year. No excuses. Just make it happen..

Take Care!

Sheri McConnell

Smart Women’s Institute™

http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com

This “intro” was taken from our latest newsletter. Not getting our newsletter? Sign up by clicking on “Grab Your Smart Tools Now” at the TOP of this page and you’ll also receive a free membership!

Please take time this week to read this article of how an evolved man sees his wife (and all women) in relationship to himself (and all men). I was brought to tears reading this because he truly expresses an evolved healthy way of being and thinking in our intimate relationships with each other. Enjoy!

A few days ago, after a particularly exquisite evening with my wife Chameli, I put this post up on Facebook before going to bed:

“I have had many, many great teachers in my life. A super abundance. No one and nothing comes close to the woman who is now asleep in the bedroom. My marriage has become the guru, the salvation, the muse, the crack through which the divine shines through.”

When I woke up the next morning, there were the usual offerings of people who liked the post as well as comments. One man had the vulnerability and courage to post this on facebook:

Read More: Why It Is Wise To Worship A Woman

by Erin Shell Anthony, MBA

If you love lists – and you love Twitter – I’ve compiled just the thing for you:  a listing of the Top Ten Inspirational Business Women to Follow in 2012.

Before I get into why I have each one of these women on my Rockstar-Womenpreneurs Twitter list, I want you to know that even though my blog is primarily about expressing your purpose through business, business and purpose are just two facets of being a Rockstar Womanpreneur.

At the end of the day, balance, priorities, joy, family…all of these are important, and they all help you to be more well-rounded and authentic with your followers, subscribers and customers.

Why Did I Choose Them?

I didn’t choose these women for their number of followers (even though they have quite a few)- but for their substance and style.  They are dynamic, insightful, funny and full of wisdom about business, social media, balance and family.  They also capture both inspiration and sincerity in their tweets, which makes them fun to follow.  I absolutely love following them – and I think you will too.

Top Ten Women Tweeters to Follow in 2012

@jenniferbourn:  Jennifer is a graphic artist and web designer who I started following several years ago not only because I was inspired by her clean, beautiful web designs, but also for her business knowledge and transparency in sharing her journey.  Follow her for quick tips on design, optimizing your site and enjoy her musings on family and business.

@MelissaOnline:  Creator of sheownsit.com (gotta love the name of her site!), Melissa Stewart “celebrates, connects and supports women entrepreneurs” and she does it through producing insightful content full of resources that help women be better, stronger entrepreneurs.  She also tweets her knowledge and actively engages her followers.  Follow Melissa for entrepreneurial tweets on happenings on the web as well as a lot of friendly interaction.

@powermommy:  Powermommy is actually a personal friend of mine who has been inspiring women for years!  She has a beautiful (and big!) family and manages them with such ease and grace you would think that anybody could just whip up homemade meals, balance a career as a Corporate Executive and take their teenage sons to spoken word events any day of the week.  She’s the bomb Mom!  Follow her for tweets on balancing life, career and family.

@isazapata:  Isa is an artist and it shows in her tweets.  Inspiration moves people to action and she shares the best of it through quotes, ideas and art through words.  In her own words, Isa wants to “remind everyone that life is simple and beautiful.” Follow Isa for mindful, positive tweets and to incorporate the beauty of art in your daily life.

@ElenaVerlee:  I began following Elena a few years ago and she has just about the best blog I’ve ever read for PR tips and tactics.  She’s a fabulous business woman, and her tweets and blog posts always introduce others to new ways to create positive PR for their businesses.  Follow her to learn more about public relations and implement her tips to attract more business.

@SheriMcConnell:  Sheri McConnell is the CEO of the Smart Women Institute, which is a community of women 50,000 strong.  She’s a master of membership based businesses and is generous with her wisdom – both on Twitter and on her website.  She’s also an inspirational connector of women! Follow Sheri for business advice and simply great mentorship.

@Womenworking:  An online community for women who want to advance in their careers and enjoy life, I love @womenworking for their concise, impactful tweets.  Their mission is to dare women to go for their dreams, and I retweet them regularly because their tweets are so inspirational!  Follow them for ways to optimize your career as well as for business motivation.

@AnnTran_:  Ann Tran specializes in sharing quick ways that you can optimize social media – but she also sprinkles that social media wisdom with beautiful quotes, like a recent one by Bono – “Grace defies reason and logic.”  With over 270k followers, she’s a great example of how to use Twitter, and make it useful for both yourself and others.  Follow her for really good information on social media and for inspiration.

@ponderful:  Lynn Ponder is the founder of webcitygirls.com, a multi-cultural social media press team.  Another great example of how to use Twitter, Lynn fills all of her tweets with such a positive vibe, you can feel it!  Follow Lynn for tweets on social media news and happenings as well as to interact with someone who truly takes interest in her Twitter followers.

@drtiffanybrown:  If you like affirmations, you’ll love Dr. Tiffany Brown.  On a regular basis, she posts morning prayers that are truly positive affirmations for a healthy mind and spirit.  Her prayers are easy one-two sentence tweets that are perfect for getting your day started right, and perfect for retweeting.  Follow her for inspiration and mental clarity.

One Extra Shout-Out!

And although I can’t put him on the list above for obvious reasons -I couldn’t end this post without thanking Sean Gardner, aka @2morrowknight, one of my Twitter friends who introduced me through Twitter to two of my top 10 (@ponderful & @isazapata), and who, even with almost 300k followers, takes time out to respond personally and connect others.  Through his example, he demonstrated what is, in my opinion, one of the most useful ways to optimize Twitter and establish real connections.

Take a moment to follow these fabulous folks in 2012.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as much as I do!

Follow Erin @erinsanthony for tips on finding your purpose and expressing it through business, solid business & marketing tips and especially for #RENEW Wednesdays which are full of Erin’s affirmations for a joyful business and life!

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Want to be a Smart Woman Blogger?

Would you like to write for our blog and promote your company or website in the process?

We are looking for health, wealth, and business experts to write short weekly blog tips. E-mail us atinfo@smartwomeninstitute.com for details.

Q: When did you realize your big WHY?
A: Always wanted to go into either teaching or nursing from a young age. It wasn’t until I was a qualified nurse and on my journey of getting a degree that I realised – training and coaching other healthcare professionals was my why.

Why? Because nursing wasn’t enough, I wanted to help patients thorough the expertise and compassion instilled by the care delivers.

I wanted to make their lives easier, fulfilling and enjoyable and by doing that – share these same 3 values with those who needed the healthcare professionals guidance, care and expertise.

Q: How and when did you make living your WHY a reality?
A: This why became a reality when as a Marie Curie Leader I fostered a culture of support, growth, opportunity for the Marie Curie nurses who provided palliative care in the patients home.

This was a ‘tipping of the toe’ into an area that totally excited me. One where it feed my ego of making a difference – MAD.

Since then, I have created Enabling Success for health and social care leaders and managers. Building there confidence and emotional resilience in heading their organisations because it can be lonely at the top.

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far about living your WHY?
A: Keep on track – take action – otherwise if you just sit on the tracks – you’ll eventually get run over.

Q: What is coming up next for you?
A: Developing a Global Network using the principles of Sheri McConnell and her Smart Women’s Institute

Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your life in a positive way.
A: Paul McGee ‘SUMO’ Shut Up and Move On, Joey Martin – Shift Speaker Training,

Q: What excites or ignites your soul?
A: travel, adventure and sunshine! Its the opportunity of not knowing where the day is going to end, how its going to pan out and with warmth of the sun to keep your spirits high.

Bio: Jen Sutton
Enabling Success and Your Success Factors
From Bedpans to Business Plans…

Jennie Sutton started her career in Nursing then went into leadership within healthcare as a result of her passion to make things better. Better for those who received care and better for those who delivered care.

Jennie enjoys getting people to realise their potential and believes that the way to facilitate that is through stepping out of your comfort zone whilst being supported in the process. Jennie works with practitioners within health and social care sector to overcome the challenges facing them in a highly stressful and emotionally charged profession.

Jennie currently combines her training, coaching and speaking business http://www.enablingsuccess.com and http://www.yoursuccessfactors.com with that of being a GP Practice Manager in Cumbria, in the UK.

Jennie is also a mother of four children and founder of a number of social enterprises, ranging from a Women’s Theatre Group to a Community Led Initiative in Health.
Jennie is some one who makes things happen. ‘No’ is not an option and provided the outcomes or actions make her MAD (Make A Difference), Jennie’s talents to make things come to fruition is her creativity and resourcefulness.

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About this section: Each week we feature one of our Smart Women Book SeriesTM authors. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter and on our blog permanently, click here: http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com/2011/12/become-an-author/

Dear Smart Women,

Welcome to all the new Smart Women Members this week! So happy to have you as part of the Smart Women Family.

I have so much to share with you. This year is off to such an exciting start!! We have a brand new section in this week’s newsletter: Smart Women Book SeriesTM Interviews. Enjoy! Many of you know I produced a newsletter for the National Association of Women Writers for over a decade; my favorite section was the interview section. We asked women writers the same 5 questions each week and what was so beautiful was how diverse the answers were and how brilliance comes in so many packages. As you read the weekly interviews, take notice of this. And of course, if you can make it into our next book, we’d love to feature you too.

Upcoming Deadlines

JANUARY 19 – Amazon Book Launch for Smart Women LIVE Their WHY

Please share this link anytime next week and especially on January 19th to help take a female authored book to number one on Amazon. The boys do it all the time because they work together and use leverage. Let’s show the male dominated publishing/business world how powerful women are by showing them our leverage ladies!

Please share this information below on January 19 and grab a copy for yourself and friend while you are at it.

Please share: Smart Women Live Their Why. Over 400 pages of powerful stories from women entrepreneurs all over the world. Grab out latest book today only: http://tinyurl.com/buywhybooktoday

JANUARY 31 – Deadline to submit for our Spring Book, Smart Women Embrace Transitions

We have tweaked the title of our next book and taken 2012 out of the title… as much as I’d love to focus on 2012 and the magic around it, my editorial team and I decided that this book is so special already that taking the “2012″ out of the title really allowed us to help women with transitions for years to come. Make sure you check out this page today so you don’t miss this opportunity to partner with us for the next decade. We will not publish another compilation book for at least the next few years.

Only Two Weeks Left to Become an Author In Our Next Book! Deadline January 31st.

Title and Mission of Book

The Smart Women’s Institute^TM is proud to open up the opportunity for you to participate and be an author in the 5th book in the Smart Women SERIES^TM.

Our first 2012 book title Smart Women Embrace Transitions – How to Lean Into Change with Your Body, Mind, and Soul will be a compilation of tips, advice, inspiration, and stories from women who have “thrived” through transitions.

The mission of our next book is empower women to embrace change as a catalyst for growth and to share how this is especially important moving into 2012.

Your stories regarding transitions such as career changes, marriages, child birth(s), adoptions, deaths, health changes, etc. are encouraged.

LEARN MORE NOW at: http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com/2011/12/become-an-author/

Have You Officially Joined the Smart Women’s InstituteTM Yet? It’s free!

If you you haven’t officially joined the Smart Women’s InstituteTM yet, now is the time. Click HERE to join now and get a lot of cool SMART TOOLS. And remember, if you post the membership seal on your website and/or at Facebook, and email us, we’ll send you a free PDF copy of our latest book, Smart Women Live Their Why!

Take Care!

Sheri McConnell

Smart Women’s Institute™

http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com

This “intro” was taken from our latest newsletter. Not getting our newsletter? Sign up by clicking on “Grab Your Smart Tools Now” at the TOP of this page and you’ll also receive a free membership!

Q: When did you realize your big WHY?
A: When I turned 40, I was at a high point in a way and low point in another way. I had reached my professional and financial goals I set when I turned 30, thinking at the time they were impossible. But I was losing interest in my current career; it was no longer challenging or fulfilling. It was time to set a goal to hit by my 50th. I had spent the last 3 years steadily making healthy changes to my lifestyle. I started losing weight and getting in shape. At 40, I was in the best shape of my life. I had energy, confidence, and self awareness. It provided a springboard for growth in all areas of my life. Being fit had given me so much, I decided I had to share that with other women. I decided to share my passion for exercise and nutrition and become a life coach specializing in health & fitness. I enrolled at the International Coach Academy and became a coach. I was searching so hard for my ‘calling’ and it was right there under my nose.

Q: How and when did you make living your WHY a reality?
A: I live a healthy lifestyle one day, week, month and year at a time. The battle for a healthy lifestyle is won in the little moments when you have to do the right thing when no one else is watching and may never know your victory. You’ll know. Small changes add up to big results over time. It’s not a perfect road; it’s a slow, ever-evolving road. It has so much to teach you about you. I launched The Personal Evolution Company to help women through their journey and discover their why. To transition to a healthy lifestyle, it takes commitment. Looking good for one-time event isn’t going to cut it. There must be a bigger reason for the changes to stick. There is a lot of information available about how to exercise, what to eat, and even a lot of compelling health reasons why you should. NONE of it matters until it gets personal. People have to find their WHY to really make the change to a healthy lifestyle.

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far about living your WHY?
A: The most important lesson I’ve learned so far about living a healthy lifestyle is about promises. First, set goals that are totally within your control. You can’t control how much weight you lose this week or where it comes from. You CAN control what you eat, your portions and your exercise regimen. When you set your goal for the week, say it is to walk 3 times this week for 30 minutes at your minimum target heart rate, then you are making a promise to yourself. KEEP your promise. Only commit to the things you are willing to do. Start small if you have to. Once you make the promise to yourself, keep it.

Q: What is coming up next for you?
A: My next project is to widen my reach and create a community of support for women on their journey to being healthy and fit. I want to launch a national organization for women that provides inspiration, education, self awareness, motivation, and tips.

Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your life in a positive way.
A: The most influential book in my life is Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I read this book (several times) early on in my professional career. It helped me grow up. The first habit alone was worth it’s weight in gold: Be Proactive.

Other authors I like are Tom Peters and Timothy Ferriss. A great book about eating healthy is anything in Tosca Rena’s Eat Clean series. Her recipes are fabulous, all whole foods and they taste great.

Q: What excites or ignites your soul?
A: It’s a total rush to see someone get excited about something he or she wants to do. I love positive energy. There’s no better feeling than accomplishing a goal or a milestone…unless you’re sharing someone else’s moment. Of course, I also get excited over a great golf shot.

Bio: Stacie Cole is an expert at creating a healthy lifestyle. She is a former gym owner, personal trainer and nutrition counselor. In her late 30′s she renewed her commitment to eating better and exercising. Losing over 40 pounds, she shed her size 14 clothes for a new wardrobe of 4′s. Stacie decided to center her professional life on her passion for a healthy lifestyle and launched The Personal Evolution Company (www.PersonalEvolutionCo.com) to help women live in the healthy, fit body they deserve. She is married to the man of her dreams, Jason. They live in Florence, S.C. with their Schnoodle, Putter, and Great Dane, Luna. Their goal is to move to the St. George, Utah area soon where they can hike the red rock canyons often.

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About this section: Each week we feature one of our Smart Women Book SeriesTM authors. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter and on our blog permanently, click here: http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com/2011/12/become-an-author/