Monday, March 28, 2011
Ladies Who Lunch Together Frequently
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Learn From Those Who Have Gone Before You
So I went to lunch recently with Lisa Thompson. Lisa is someone that knows me very well since we met 31 years ago (when I was 7). Lisa has had her own business as a family therapist in Western, MA for many years. Her business is called Share Vision and the website is http://www.sharevision.net/.
We met at Judie's in Amherst, MA. (http://www.judiesrestaurant.com/) The main thing to know about Judie's is that it has legendary popovers. If you check out their website - you can see a picture of one - and that is about the extent of the website. I got one and enjoyed every morsel.
Lisa and I talked about my new business and what kind of work I wanted to do. We also discussed running this consulting business out of my house. Lisa has run her business both out of her house and now has an office separate from her house. Not really sure which way to go - there are certainly advantages to both.
Lisa also mentioned that there are a couple of people she wants to introduce me to. Both of these people are currently in a similar business to my new business. One is an accountant (focusing on taxes - which I don't do) and another owns a business services company. Perhaps we can provide referals to each other. I asked her to set up lunches with them and so more blogs to follow.
It was great to see Lisa and to talk to her about some of my ideas. Talking to someone who is already running her own small businesses helps me learn from the experience that she shares. And we had fun!
We met at Judie's in Amherst, MA. (http://www.judiesrestaurant.com/) The main thing to know about Judie's is that it has legendary popovers. If you check out their website - you can see a picture of one - and that is about the extent of the website. I got one and enjoyed every morsel.
Lisa and I talked about my new business and what kind of work I wanted to do. We also discussed running this consulting business out of my house. Lisa has run her business both out of her house and now has an office separate from her house. Not really sure which way to go - there are certainly advantages to both.
Lisa also mentioned that there are a couple of people she wants to introduce me to. Both of these people are currently in a similar business to my new business. One is an accountant (focusing on taxes - which I don't do) and another owns a business services company. Perhaps we can provide referals to each other. I asked her to set up lunches with them and so more blogs to follow.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
No Need To Get Fancy
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| Kelly's Restaurant, Rt. 9, Amherst |
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| Lunch is for the birds |
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| Menu Mural |
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| Kelly's great staff |
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| The Wise Bloggers |
This is only the second time Sarah and I have managed to have lunch together since starting Ladies Who Lunch--so much for the fantasy of endless free time to hang out. We decided to lunch at Kelly's Restaurant on Rt. 9 in Amherst just a mile or so from each of our homes. We decided we had no need to "go fancy". Kelly's is a townie breakfast and lunch spot with no pretensions. However it recently went through a decor uplift with painted murals by local painter and artist Becca Wheeler.
Search Results
Becca Wheeler's Painted Whimsy: Decorative Painting
Becca Wheeler creates beautiful works of art on your walls or of your favorite pieces of furniture. Becca will also teach you and your friends how do bring ...
www.beccawheeler.com/
In the photos you will see some of Becca's work as well as some of Kelly's cooks and wait staff as well as Sarah and me enjoying our time together.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Loving My Work
Funny...I just read my mom's last post and she also went to Esselon. I met my friend Kathy (Mireault) Foster for lunch at Esselon. I have known Kathy since 7th grade - so for over 25 years!
We met for a working lunch and Esselon has great coffee and free Wi-Fi. We were meeting so I could help her with a business plan for a business she plans on opening. It was really fun to hear about the business (an indoor gym for kids). We worked on the financial plan for the business so that she could show it to a potential landlord. At one point she asked me "don't you hate doing this" and I replied "no, I love doing this - this is what I love to do".
Doing something that I love - helping people start or manage their businesses - makes me wonder why I didn't start my own consulting business sooner. It is especially fun to work with someone like Kathy who is so passionate about kids fitness and providing a fun, clean, and safe environment for families with young children. I commend anyone who wants to work with kids full time - I sometimes wonder how I manage to handle one (my 10 year old son Liam), never mind twenty or thirty kids at a time!
Here is a picture of us after our lunch (not the greatest, but the best of 5).
And my best advice for the day is to try to find something that you love to do - because this is the path to success!
We met for a working lunch and Esselon has great coffee and free Wi-Fi. We were meeting so I could help her with a business plan for a business she plans on opening. It was really fun to hear about the business (an indoor gym for kids). We worked on the financial plan for the business so that she could show it to a potential landlord. At one point she asked me "don't you hate doing this" and I replied "no, I love doing this - this is what I love to do".
Doing something that I love - helping people start or manage their businesses - makes me wonder why I didn't start my own consulting business sooner. It is especially fun to work with someone like Kathy who is so passionate about kids fitness and providing a fun, clean, and safe environment for families with young children. I commend anyone who wants to work with kids full time - I sometimes wonder how I manage to handle one (my 10 year old son Liam), never mind twenty or thirty kids at a time!
Here is a picture of us after our lunch (not the greatest, but the best of 5).
And my best advice for the day is to try to find something that you love to do - because this is the path to success!
Lunch is the Antidote to February
February may be the shortest month but it sure feels never ending this winter. But having lunch with friends are some of the bright spots. A few weeks ago I picked up my dear friend Sue Thrasher at Five Colleges Inc. where she works as the Schools Partnership Coordinator. We ventured over to Hadley to have lunch at Esselon. Esselon is a favorite place to hang out for breakfast, lunch or just a 'cupa.
Esselon Artisan Green Coffee Roasters | Premium Coffee Beans and Teas
Esselon artisan green coffee roasters offers fresh roasted premium coffee beans and quality teas, both retail and wholesale. www.esselon.com/ They have the best coffee in the Valley in my opinion.
Here you will see some snaps of Sue and an assortment of Esselon views.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Lunching with Fran
Lucky for me that many of my friends are out of or between full time employment and are happy to have lunch with me and talk about what we're currently doing. This Monday I had lunch with an old friend, Fran Van Trese who I initially met when she was on the Town of Amherst Redevelopment Authority. Fran's no longer doing that but she is serving on the town's transportation committee and on the Advisory Committee to the Norwottuck Rail Trail. This week she's off on a trip to Africa to see wildlife. We lunched in downtown Amherst at the Monkey Bar. Here's a picture from the lunch as well as the business card from my almost ready to open B & B.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Family and Friends First
So one of the stumbling blocks of starting your own business is quieting the negative thoughts that will run through your mind. It doesn't matter if you are an optimistic and positive person, you will have some doubts about starting your own business. There is a lot to do and there are lots of decisions to make. Some things will not go as planned and some days will be harder than others.
My solution to this is to spend time with your biggest supporters. Pick some people from your family and friends that will pump you up and help you to realize that you can do it - after all they believe in you! And what better way to get positive feedback than to have a lunch with one of these ladies in my life.
So I met my step-mother, Dr. Margaret Kierstein, for lunch at Bertucci's. It was a fun time and we both talked about our changing careers. She is a psychologist who does a lot of work for the courts and is looking for a change. I told her about starting the business and she had some ideas for me - mentioning that she had talked to an attorney friend and they had asked for me to send some of my cards. Just this information alone, made me feel very hopeful and I left that lunch thinking "I can do this!".
My solution to this is to spend time with your biggest supporters. Pick some people from your family and friends that will pump you up and help you to realize that you can do it - after all they believe in you! And what better way to get positive feedback than to have a lunch with one of these ladies in my life.
So I met my step-mother, Dr. Margaret Kierstein, for lunch at Bertucci's. It was a fun time and we both talked about our changing careers. She is a psychologist who does a lot of work for the courts and is looking for a change. I told her about starting the business and she had some ideas for me - mentioning that she had talked to an attorney friend and they had asked for me to send some of my cards. Just this information alone, made me feel very hopeful and I left that lunch thinking "I can do this!".
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