Heart Book Series

Several contributors to the new Heart of a Woman in Business book showed up in force to support a special charity event October 10 to benefit Dress for Success San Diego.

The lively outdoor evening event, Check Your Bag at the Door, was hosted by Lisa Knight, owner of Orange Salon & Spa in Leucadia, California. Admission was free for those bringing donations of handbags stuffed with toiletries, accessories and necessities for a working woman.

The cause, Dress for Success San Diego, has a passionate mission to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in word and in life.

Success in the Workplace, Brighter Futures for Families
Dress for Success San Diego is focused exclusively on extending a lifeline of services to low income women as they transition from government subsidy to interview preparedness, through job-readiness and employment retention.  It all starts at the private, warmly decorated Dress for Success San Diego boutique, where each client receives consultation and business attire as she prepares for a job interview that can change the course of her life.  This visit is the first link in a chain of services devoted to social and economic development, assuring clients that they have support and encouragement throughout their journey to self-sufficiency.

Dress for Success San Diego has served over 4500 local women since 1998, referred from over 60 local human service agencies and job-readiness programs. Our clients’ success is made possible through the generosity of our friends in the community. Your donations will have an immediate impact on the lives of deserving women who have overcome tremendous adversity on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Donations Accepted
Dress for Success San Diego accepts clean, ready-to-wear, current style, conservative skirt suits, pant suits, blouses, new hosiery, costume jewelry and accessories. Sizes 12 and above are urgently needed. 

Also present were book contributors:
Nancy Bahr Kelly, owner of n. bahr designs;

I had finished my residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology two months prior and moved cross-country to start practicing my profession in California. I joined an established practice and a new medical assistant was hired to help care for the patients.  I hoped she would allay my patient’s fears and keep the schedule running on time by anticipating my needs and having the proper equipment ready.

During the four years of medical school and four years of postgraduate training in Ob/Gyn, nobody had taught me to be a boss. My assistants during my residency were registered nurses who had been working at that hospital for years. I swear they knew more about what I was supposed to do than I did. There was no “bossing” to be done by me!

Now in private practice, I was in completely new territory. Because I was 2500 miles away from everyone I knew, my fellow workers became my new family. I befriended this medical assistant and felt very “big sisterly” towards her.
And we seemed to work well together, until that day! On that day, the patient needed a biopsy of her uterus. The instruments for that procedure were in the supply room, not the exam room. My assistant needed to collect a variety of things to allow me to perform this procedure. She had assisted me with this procedure at least three times in the past. I assumed she knew what we needed and would bring everything into the room.

Well, you know what they say about assume! She did not bring everything. I was angry and insulted her in front of the patient by sending her out several times to get more supplies and instruments. We did, at last, accomplish the task and the patient was able to go home.

When I came out of the exam room, the office manager informed me that the medical assistant was so hurt by my treatment of her that she walked out the door and said she would NOT be coming back.

I was stunned! I had not anticipated the effect of my actions.

To produce a different result, something will need to change. What you have done up until now has gotten you where you are. Doing the same thing going forward is going to keep you there.

Change can be frightening and uncomfortable. That’s why many people choose to continue repeating past behaviors rather than risking a change that will take them to their most cherished goal or dream.

The decision to leave the corporate world to start my own business a few years ago was a major change for me. I knew that in order to pursue my dream of helping people become more empowered, fulfilled and successful, I had to make a change. It required me stepping out of my comfort zone and taking risks with no guarantee of success. No doubt, it has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but making this change has also led to success and opportunities I would have never imagined.

1.    Decide that you will make a change.
Hope is not a strategy. Rather than sitting around hoping things will change, decide that you will commit to doing something different in order to create different results in your life, your relationships or your career. 

2.    Get clear on your desired outcome.
It’s hard to hit a target you can’t see.  If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there? Where do you see yourself once the change has become a reality? What is important about the goal?

3.    Create a plan.
Develop a plan to use as your roadmap and guide. It is easier to make progress when you have outlined the steps to take. A clear plan will act as a compass to keep you on course amidst the hundreds of distractions you will face along the way.

4.    Get into action.
Once you decide to make a change, it’s time to take action. Many people get stuck at this crucial step, letting their fear of the unknown stop them from moving forward. By taking action, you create momentum and positive energy to propel you forward.