CONNECT AND GROW WITH WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNIT Y

MAY 2011

Stress,
Hormones
and YOu
VICKIE L. BUNZEY

STuck in
a RUT
Kim Hughes

Nikki Fashion Designer

of Nika Formals

Kapoor
From the publisher Mimi Zelman

Dear Readers,
I always get excited this time of every month,
because every time I see a new issue of Women
With Know How completed, it gives as much
pleasure as the first one we published!
It really is a feeling I can’t describe. I feel like the
magazine is like having a new baby every month!

I am especially excited this month to have Niki

Kapoor as our cover story. She really is an
amazing woman and the more I get to know her,
the more inspired I get! Speaking of having a
baby every month, this month is Mother’s Day

“
and I wish all mothers the best mother’s day!

Those of us that are daughters, make sure to

make your mom feel loved. Nothing gives more
Those of us that pleasure than when I hear the words I love you
from my daughters!
are daughters, make

”
sure to make your In closing I feel this poem says it best:

mom feel loved.

More Than A Mother

When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.
He sat back and saw all that was good;
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?
He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reflection on her child’s face.
A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.
She’ll work her fingers to the bone
to make a house into a home.
A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.
She’ll be there through your pain and strife;
she’ll stay constant in your life.
A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.
She’ll pick you up when you are down;
when you need a friend she’ll stick around.
A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.
A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.
A mother is one who can be strong
when you need someone to lean on.
You’re more than a mother to me;
a reflection of Him in your face I see,
a love that knows no boundaries.
I’m glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,
you’re more than my mother,
and you are my friend.

2
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 COntents

Features

16 26 34 36
Cover Story Professional Business Food
Nikki Kapoor Spotlight How to Succeed as New Twists on Fresh
Dickie Choate a Small Business Owner Summer Favorites

Departments
Marketing
6 Young Entrepreneur 22

Karen L. Dortschy Kim Hughes

Your Career
10 Finance 28

Robyn Crigger April Oliver

Wellness
12
Vickie L. Bunzey

3
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 ®

Serving Charlotte
Visit Our and Charleston

Online Store
Publisher/President
Mimi L. Zelman
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com

You know your stuff, design and page production

now show the world! SPARK Publications

info@SPARKpublications.com

vICE pRESIDENT OF MARKETING

Whether you’re heading to your company’s Wendy Whitehurst

board meeting or your daughter’s soccer Contributing Writers

Mary Elizabeth Murphy
practice, you’ll be stylin’ when you show the
Marcie Williams- Browning
world that you are a Woman With Know-how. Robyn Crigger

Kim Hughes
We’ve handpicked a select group of items of 704events.com
all in rich black, to showase the gorgeous
fuchsia pink and silver metallic embroidered Charleston
Contact Mimi Zelman
message that tells everyone you are truly
704-491-1207
a woman to be reckoned with. mimi@womenwithknowhow.com

For more advertising information call

Mimi at 704-491-1207 or email her at:
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
Copyright ©2010

www.womenwithknowhow.com
Cover photography: Dustin Shores
4
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Marketing Karen L. Dortschy, Partner, Sandbox Solutions

“Consistency is Key to
Building Brand Awareness”

H
ere’s a pop quiz! What a “brand”? In simplistic terms a brand
shape is the Starbucks is a proposition – a message such
“siren” (woman as “we deliver quality sportswear”.
mythological creature) enclosed There may also be sub-messages
in and what is its color? What and values which associate with that
direction does the Nike swoosh message, but they all revolve around
move – left to right, or right to the same idea. How this message
left? What color is Target’s target? is communicated is often termed
(Answers below). “branding”, and one of the most
important aspects of communicating
Chances are you answered all three a brand visually and subconsciously is
correctly. Why? Because Starbucks, consistency.
Nike and Target are the ultimate
role models for brand consistency The core message of all successful
– resulting in their companies brands never really changes. Let’s
and products being easily consider Apple computers. Since
recognizable and identifiable. their brand’s conception, their brand
MO R E IN F O
y
You probably hear the words proposition was to supply state-of-
Karen L. Dortsch
Sandbox So lut ion s “brand” and “branding” the-art, high-quality, great looking
ox
www.InYourSandb x.com
.com often these days, as they and high-performing computers. This
mara@inyoursandbo
704.201.3354 are buzz words thrown message has never changed, although
around by almost everyone. the way they have communicated
So what really is the definition of this over the years has, as they have
6
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 Marketing alone does product or service, she needs to be
not build a brand. exposed to a brand 17 times. Seventeen
times! It’s essential that when a
Many communications potential customer comes across your
contribute to a brand “brand message”, she knows right away
which brand is communicating to them.
and a brand image. This can only be done by consistency.
Otherwise, she can mistake your brand
kept up with modern design standards. with a competing brand, which means
This has led to consumer recognition, your business potentially loses that
and then trust and loyalty from their customer and may even help your
customers. competitor gain her!

Think about other successful brands However, Marketing alone does not
such as Nike, Intel, Disney and build a brand. Many communications
McDonalds. Whatever you look at, contribute to a brand and a brand
whether it’s a hangtag on a shirt, an image-- including the product or service
Internet ad, a store sign or product
packaging, you’ll see that each piece
is consistent in look, font, attitude and
message. From logo usage to package
design to website to store signage,
they’re consistent.

Consistency -- whatever the medium,

whatever the message, is the hallmark
of building a strong brand. But why
bother with brand consistency? Call me today to see how much
you could save with Allstate’s
Brand consistency has one massive home & auto discounts.
advantage – recognition. With (980) 875-9385
recognition comes familiarity. With
familiarity comes trust and confidence. Kim Fewell
1230 Charlottetowne Ave.
Also, if done correctly, consistency
Charlotte
brings clarity and purpose which KimFewell@allstate.com
customers buy into. They become loyal.

As people we don’t really like “new’

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qualifications. Discount amount may be lower. Allstate Indemnity - Private Passenger Auto, Allstate
Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company: Northbrook, IL © 2009
before a consumer purchases a Allstate Insurance Company

7
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 itself, people-to-people interactions
and all forms of communications,
including bills that are sent to
customers, checks that are sent to
suppliers, etc.
Be diligent in ensuring everyone
maintains consistency – every day,
every communication.
Even the way the copy on a company
email is written should be considered
in the light of the brand messaging.
Standards include deciding if everyone
should write “e-mail” or “Email” or
“E-mail” or something else. Everything
should be consistent. If they’re not,
it causes customers to lose trust in
the brand.
Brand consistency often takes many
years to master before it really starts
working for you. This means you
need to think long term – and hit the
ground running with brand consistency.
Leading brands got there because they
have had many years of consistency
behind them and they have had long-
term, clear goals for consistency in
their brand, with the right people in
place to “guard” the brand.
So if you are just starting a business,
or haven’t had years to build brand
Answers to Pop Quiz: 1. Circle, green 2. Left to right 3. Red
8
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consistency, what can you do?
Start with the basics – email addresses
(all initial caps, or all lower case or
upper/lower), email signatures, fonts
for emails and other communications.
Don’t use Arial for one medium,
Verdana for another and Comic Sans
for yet another.
The type and quality of paper used for
everyone’s business cards, stationery
and brochures. Your invoices and
statements. Your vehicle magnet signs
and your tradeshow booth signs. Your
voicemail message and how everyone
should answer the phone.
Create brand standards for all of these,
that everyone in your organization
needs to follow. Designate yourself or
another leader in your organization that
is detail-focused, as the guardian of the
brand. Be diligent in ensuring everyone
maintains consistency – every day,
every communication. Then, you’ll be
on your way to becoming the next Nike,
Starbucks or Apple!
For more tips and recommendations
for branding or rebranding your
business, contact Sandbox Solutions
for a free copy of the newest
Sandbox Solutions Sand Paper (our
version of the White Paper), entitled
“Company Rebranding - Operational
Implementation”, or for more
information.
 Your Career Robyn Crigger, CEO Compass Career Management

As Economy Drags On, What

Are The Umemployed To Do?

W
ho hasn’t heard all the employers (especially small businesses)
grumbling about the poor as far as needing to keep costs down
economy, expenses of all in order to keep the business healthy.
kinds skyrocketing, and that many However, there are many unemployed
are still unemployed for more than people, who are really trying to get
a year? There are still many who are hired. There are some challenges that
mature job search candidates who complicate matters. For instance there
are being refused any employment, are some unemployed people, who are
using the excuse of being “over receiving unemployment checks, but can
qualified”, when clearly it is their only find work that pays enough to lose
age that is the reason. Of course, their unemployment benefits but doesn’t
many employers know that the pay enough to cover their living expenses.
mature, experienced employee
would expect a higher salary Obviously, our government’s pockets
than a young, inexperienced are empty, and printing more money
person. +Since most isn’t the answer. So what can any of us
INF O employers are still trying do? Some options could be:
MORE c. – Compassns
ners In
OI Part anagement
Solutio to keep their costs down,
r M o m
Caree care e r .c they are selecting the The necessity to get more than one job.
mpass
www.co 04) 849-2500 er.com
(7
compas
sca re less experienced job A possibility if child care isn’t an issue.
rcrigger@
candidate.
Moving in with relatives or friends and
As a business owner, I can sharing/splitting expenses.
understand the dilemma for most With gas so expensive, use public
10
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transportation or carpool when at
all possible.
I will be the first to tell you that you
MUST be organized and learn all that
Review your spending habits and cut is involved in being self-employed.
out luxuries (Example: one TV story
showed a family struggling, and yet the
mother was still buying “bottled water”
and chips, etc.) we feel about our economy and relay
what we expect of them. As “our”
The cutting of coupons for the grocery representatives they need to know your
store has been proven to save a LOT perspectives and needs. As for what to
of money! do as an unemployed person, don’t sit
behind a computer, but instead get out
There is one option that some and talk to as many people as you can.
unemployed people have chosen to Relay how you can help an employer!
become “Self-Employed”. It is NOT Keep an open mind.
easy!!! But if you carefully choose
a line of business in which you are
experienced and could effectively
promote to potential clients, this
COULD be something to seriously
consider.

However, I will be the first to tell you

that you MUST be organized and
learn all that is involved in being self-
employed. It is very hard work, and
you would either need to be able to
prove to a bank that you could be
successful in order to get a loan to
start the business. OR you would need
to have ample funds set aside to start
your business AND enough money to
live off of for six months to a year AT
LEAST! Many new businesses don’t
earn enough money to pay themselves
for 1-3 years.

In the meantime we all need to let our

legislative representatives know how
11
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 wellness Vickie L. Bunzey, Certified Holistic Health Coach

Stress, Hormones and You

“I am so stressed out.” a chain reaction happens. The stress
How many times do you say, think hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, are
or feel that if you have to deal with released. Cortisol is a hormone critical
one more thing you are going to in managing fat storage and energy
explode. Unfortunately, too many of in your body. Cortisol is known to
us experience this feeling every day. increase appetite and may encourage
Stress is so common place that we cravings for sugary or fatty foods.
may not even notice how much stress
we feel. It may be a relationship that So now with all that cortisol running
has a little bump or maybe a big bump around our body we naturally reach for
in it, a job we don’t like or even if we our comfort foods. Most comfort foods
do like it are overloaded with work, too come in the form of high carbohydrate
many things to do and too little time foods, the bad carbs….sweets, muffins,
for all the things you need to take care pastries, doughnuts, cookies, pizza,
of, too little sleep because you are too mashed potatoes, breads, french fries,
busy. What can you add to the list? chips. These foods cause a surge of
insulin in our blood stream. When
Our body obviously deals our body can’t absorb or process the
with stress, but at what excess of insulin, we store it as fat.
MORE IN FO expense? Now we have two problems….stress
Vickie L. Bunzey
Certified Holistic Health
Coach We can become tense. and weight gain.
rition.com
www.SimpleWholeFoodNuthstyle.com
Our blood pressure
vickie@yourbalancedhealt yle.com can rise. Our breathing We are not done yet.
www.YourBalancedHealthst
704.995.1951
increases. Our body We now have adrenaline, cortisol and
naturally goes into a insulin out of balance. When we reach
“fight-or-flight” stress for fattening comfort foods during
response. When this happens stressful times in a sub-conscious
12
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self-medicating state our body releases few. It is scary what stress can do to
serotonin. Serotonin makes us feel our body. But you can turn the tables
good or better. It is no surprise that on stress and you can put steps in
when we are under stress we may not place to cope with your stress.
make the smartest food choices. When
we eat sugary or fatty foods, we tend Next time you feel stressed and
to eat more and crave more. Because find yourself heading for the
we have an increase of cortisol, we also refrigerator or snack machine,
become less sensitive to the hormone stop and acknowledge the stress.
leptin. Leptin tells our brain that we are Sit down and breathe. Think…are you
full and to stop eating. We have created really hungry? Or are you dealing with
a roller coaster that is hard to get off. a situation or emotion? If you do this
repeatedly, you can create a new habit
Research is showing that this hormone for dealing with stress. Start now to
imbalance can lead to weight gain, retrain yourself in how you handle
trouble losing weight, insulin resistance, your stress.
high cholesterol levels, high blood
pressure, thyroid problems, metabolic • Eat regular meals so that you
burnout and inflammation to name a don’t get hungry and feel a drop

13
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 in your blood sugar. This will keep for a while. Find something more
you from unmindful eating. pleasant to do to distract yourself.

• Eat healthy snacks and smaller • Think positive. Come up with a

portions. Remember that food is
fuel for your body. When you eat
healthy you equip your body to
handle stress better.
•M
 anage your stress with
alternatives to food. Regular exercise
can help prevent stress, manage
emotions and help you maintain a
healthy weight. Try new things like yoga,
Tai chi or something you’ve wanted to
try. Don’t limit yourself.
•Give yourself a break. Whatever is
causing your stress, just step away
plan to resolve the situation that is
causing the stress.
• Relax. Whatever works for you….
do it. Breathe. Meditate. Visualize.
Listen to music. Take a hot bath.
•Do something fun. Get yourself out
and enjoy your life.
You can retrain yourself. Health is
about balance. Strive to balance your
nutrition, exercise, sleep and emotion
and spirituality. You will love how your
body responds.

Have you seen Local Business Profiles

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complete online advertising options

14
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 Nikki
Kapoor
W
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxy.

Fashion Designer
of Nika Formals

W
hat do you get when you combine beauty,
brains, business savvy and a big heart?

Simply two words: Niki Kapoor I had the privilege of

meeting Niki last fall and it became readily apparent
She is indeed a Woman With Know-How. Niki is generous
and gracious with her time and talent and she possesses an
internal beauty that truly defines her.

She radiates compassion, style, fortitude and a wiliness to

dream, BIG.

What follows is my conversation with Niki that tells her

story.

16
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 17
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 Tell us about Nika:
Nika is a design house for prom,
pageant, wedding and social occasion
dresses. I design product that is cutting
edge and fashion forward. At Nika,
we believe in pride of ownership. Our
dresses are made with high quality
fabric and hand-crafted bead work.
The inspiration for Nika comes from
appreciating the grace, elegance and
essence of women. Our motivation is
not to follow trends but to set them.
“Nika is a very innovative brand and
known for it. Honesty, respect and
sincerity are the cornerstones of our
customer service.
What are some interesting
statistics about Nika?
Nika is now an international brand. We
are in 14 countries. Our growth rate this
year, fingers crossed, is already 40%.
How did you get started
in the fashion industry?
I have been in the fashion industry
working as a designer and managing
operations since I was 18 years old. I
officially got started in this particular
industry (Social Occasion/ Evening)
with Mauri Simone right after college.
Mauri Simone was a Start-up. It was a
great learning experience in terms of
defining my look as a designer as well
as gaining business prowess. Since
18
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the beginning, I worked not only as a
designer, but have also been involved
in running the business side of things.
Most designers don’t get that chance.
I feel very fortunate that life gave me
opportunities that allowed me to grow in
both these areas.
What is unusual or unique about
your business, in comparison to your
competitors or similar businesses?
We offer a product that cross sells very
well. It is very diverse and versatile in
use. I can sell one dress for at least 3
occasions and for age groups ranging
from 15 to 50. My style 4015 can sell
for Prom, Pageant, Contemporary and
Wedding and (in colors) for a young
mother of bride. This concept makes
it more profitable for my stores to
carry my brand. Their ROI is higher for
my product.
Additionally, we have a very unique
look. It is truly different from my
competitors. As a result we stand out.
While everyone is going in one direction
with their designs, I go the other. I do
my own thing. So the look is always
fresh. Nika is a very innovative brand
and known for it. Honesty, respect
and sincerity are the cornerstones of
our customer service. Nika is not just
about turning a profit. Profit comes
with success. It is about the whole
experience the customers have with
Nika and the effect we have on the
industry.
Is there a customer experience a non-profit my brother started. Kukri
you are most proud of? helps impoverished children in rural India
I am proud of all of our customer with school uniforms and books etc.
experiences. We work very hard to take
care of our customers’ every day. Their goal is to help these children get
Once we had a store that forgot to place an education and break the cycle of
a special order for a dress. When they poverty. I am also a mentor for teens.
realized it they called us to order I feel a positive self-image is crucial for
it just a few days before the wear date. teenagers. They are fighting so much
We did not have the dress in stock outside influences and pressures. Helping
at that time. Instead of leaving our them get self-empowered so they can
customer hanging, we called the other be true to themselves is very important.
stores we had shipped the same dress People don’t realize it but by becoming a
to and bought it back. We do this sort mentor you can make such a difference in
of thing all the time. However, I am a child’s life. I love working with children
most proud of the fact that our stores
love our line and feel proud to carry it.
This is most fulfilling to me. Every time I
talk to them, they share how much they
love my dresses. Most of my customers
showcase my dresses in their window
display. Sometimes they buy a dress just
for the display to draw traffic. It is the
best compliment a designer can get.

Please share your involvement and

commitment with nonprofit work?
I am very involved in non-profit work. It
is part of the reason I do what I do. I am
starting an orphanage in India for at-risk
Children. Our goal is to help as many
children as we can. But our focus will be
children who are at risk of being sold for
child-prostitution or servitude.
Animal Rescue is another cause very
dear to me. I am very actively involved
in helping shelter animals find rescues. I
am also involved with Kukri Foundation,

19
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 and I feel it is my calling to help them
create healthy and purposeful lives. I am
a huge fan of self-empowerment and I
encourage it early on.
Who are some of your
most notable clients?
Nika has a growing celebrity following.
We have dressed Brooke Burke, Carrie
Ann Inaba, and Karina Smirnoff from
DWTS. We also work with Vanna White
for Wheel of Fortune. She and her team
are lovely to work with, by the way. We
also dress Mya and Nikkole (both are
Grammy nominated recording artists)
for red carpet events and concerts. Just
to name a few.
What would you most like our
readers to know about your
INFO
MOREormals journey in business?
Nika F
ls.com I love being a designer. But I
w .n ik aforma549
w w 83-6
(800) 7 rmals.com also love the business aspect
fo @ n ikafo
in
of my work. It has helped me
grow so much. These are the
things that have helped me in
20
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my journey. I hope they will help you in
yours:
•B e true to who you are and do what
you love. Even if you make a few
mistakes it is not the end of the
world. It is like anything new you
learn. You are terrible at it initially.
But you get better as you practice.
Trust yourself and be wiling to take
some risks.
•H
 ave a “can do” attitude. In the end
it is all in your attitude and where
you put your attention. I have always
believed I can do anything I want. My
parents instilled a “can do” mind-
set in me. I don’t think of obstacles.
I think of the best ways to get from
point A to B.
• F ollow your intuition. My best advisor
is my intuition. In business I feel it is a
crucial tool to have along with reason
and logic. I have noticed that as I
trust my intuition more I have learnt
to trust myself more as well.
•S
 urround yourself with people wiser
than you and turn to them for advice
whenever you feel stuck. But in the
end do what feels right to you.
Watch for great things to come Niki’s
way! To see her fashions visit her
website at www.nikaformals.com
To contact Niki email her at info@
nikaformals.com or 1-800–783-6549.
21
 Young Entrepreneur Kim Hughes
Stuck in a Rut
I
t happens to the best of us.
We are chugging’ along; doing
what we are ‘supposed’ to do,
dreaming our dreams, working on
living the life that we have worked
on booties off for, and then it
happens. We’re blind-sided. We just
ran smack dab into a rut.
Now, I can be real and tell you that I
have hit more ruts in my personal and
professional life than I care to admit.
Truthfully, once a month I hit a rough
patch of some sort. Sometimes it’s a
struggle to pay bills, sometimes it’s a
situation where I haphazardly carry other
people’s emotions, which brings me down
to the 7th layer of hell, and sometimes, I
just don’t have an explanation.
What I define a rut as is being unstable;
A place where we are restless and
perturbed with our work (or personal)
lives and our groove and rhythm come
to a screeching halt. Trying to dig
ourselves out is sometimes like trying to
dig an underground canal to China.
22
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Typically when my rut occurs, I tend to
lean on and garner inspiration from my
positive ‘army’ – My band of allies and
mentors that always find a way to lift
my spirits and help to realize my value,
which I become temporarily blind to.
In my last experience, even my ‘army’
wasn’t enough. For 2 weeks, I wallowed
in my rut without a soul knowing. Ok,
I am not that ignorant; I am sure a lot
of people knew but to crawl out of my
tunnel of self-pity, I needed to conquer
this one entirely on my own.
I typically find solace in quotes and
inspirational stories and what broke me
free of the chains of my own mind was a
renowned philosopher who created the
most basic, yet powerful quote I believe
has ever been muttered… Mahatma
Gandhi.
“Be the change you want to see in the
world.”
What is so great about this quote is that it
can be taken a myriad of different ways; it
can challenge you to create a movement
that will open the world to a higher
standard and state of living, it may awaken
the masses from a mechanically induced
coma or, in my case, it can propel you
to make miniscule ‘tweaks’ to your daily
regimen that can get you back on track
and in the game.
signature. I took simple baby steps
which completely refurbished my
mental state.
Consider me broken free of my rut and
trucking down Positive Highway 12 at
full force again.

I took the word ‘CHANGE’ and I started

to brainstorm and mind-map. Defining
what change meant to me and how
I felt mulling over the word ‘change’.
A slew of powerful and stimulating
words jumped out at me but none as
compelling as ‘update’.

UPDATE – What a basic, run-of-the-

mill word but it spoke to me! I was at
a point in my professional life where I
just needed to update my practices. I
have been in the game for 6 years and
I’m not dumb but what worked for me in
the past clearly wasn’t going to catapult
me to my future. All I needed to do
was to update to a new standard in my
business.

I began creating survey’s for my current

and past clients to gain insight on their
experiences with me and my company,
I signed up for Jeffrey Gitomer’s Ace of
Sales program, I began disassociating
from organizations and obligations
that were not conducive to my time or
energy, and I conjured up a new way
to reach out to my potential clients.
I even did something as modest as
restructuring my Smartphone’s email
23
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 “Are you in a rut?
Are you satisfied
with where your life
is heading? Are you
systems at go?
It doesn’t take something big to make
a forceful impact in our lives. Time and
time again, I have found the littlest action
or thought often makes the biggest
difference. Ever hear the phrases ‘it hit
me like a ton of bricks’ or ‘one day it
just happened’? Well, that is your little
Develop a Strong Organization -
The winds of change bring opportunity.TM
24
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change occurring before your eyes BUT
the momentum behind that change isn’t
so little. You were taking the steps all
along but it was that tiny puzzle piece that
made each step fuse together to create
something magical.
Think of it this way… The computer or
device that you are reading this article on;
when you bought it, it was fully functioning,
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champ. Over time, things probably stopped
running as smoothly as it did when it was
brand new and periodically, your computer
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requests that you make updates to the
system and existing software. Though the
timing can be annoying, it is necessary to
make these updates to your programs and
computer to help it run proficiently and as
intended. Once the updates are done and
the bugs are fixed, you are back running
full-speed in the fast lane where you
deserve to be!
So I ask you; are you in a rut? Are you
satisfied with where your life is heading?
Are you systems at go?
If no, it is your time to make an
update because you just may be that
stereotypical dog chasing your own tail.
Business is done completely differently
now in comparison to 15 years ago and
as fast as our society is moving, our
business practices may be in need of
serious revamping a couple of years from
now. Making a change sometimes feels
intimidating and can feel like at feat that is
relative to sprinting up Mount Kilimanjaro
but it doesn’t have to be like that. If you
make a conscious effort to continually
make bite-sized life updates, even the
most insurmountable task will seem like a
piece of cake.

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25
®
 Professional Spotlight Mimi Zelman

Dickie Choate
of Upscale Urban Design
How did you get started in this
business?  After Design School, I
pursued commercial work and was
employed with an office furniture
dealership. They were bought out and a
changing commission structure helped
me decided to do something on my own. 

And How Long Have you been

Business? 17 yrs on my own and 21
in the industry.

What is your background-

what were you doing before
this business?  I was working as
an Executive Assistant for a high end
Home Builder. Then a Retail Store
Designer and next a Commercial Real
Estate Developer. Each experience
repeatedly involved me in scenarios
pertaining to design. It was a natural
progression to pursue a degree in the
field of Interior Design.
Who is your typical client? 
Thankfully, there is no typical client...
that’s the great thing about the
26
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business, its diversity. I meet the most
interesting people who sometimes
have really unique needs. For instance,
presently I am partnering with another
Designer in furnishing an airplane
hanger. Never done that before, so
it’s a special experience. As of late,
it has been a younger more urban
client. Charlotte has changed so much
over the past 20 years and clients
are demanding a more sophisticated,
broader spectrum of art and
furnishings.
What is unusual or unique
about your business, in
comparison to your
competitors or similar
businesses? 6 yrs. ago, quite by
accident, I began making custom
furniture. I had a specific need and the
standard manufacturer wouldn’t modify.
I found this wonderful woodworking
shop near Lenoir. About the same
time, I found a custom upholstery
shop near Hickory. Both artisans have
been in the industry over 25 yrs. and
can build most anything faster, more
beautifully and more affordably than
major manufacturers. It has given me
complete freedom to design the look
and specific dimensions I need for
each project, simultaneously giving
the client superior quality and
affordability. Because a lot of stores
are out of business now and because
we can provide all products from floor
to ceiling, our slogan is, the “Store
Without Doors”.
Take advantage of all the great
programs we have in Charlotte for
Entrepreneurs. CPCC offers free
business counseling as does the
Small Business Technology Center.
What advice do you have
for women in regards to
decorating? Before starting a
project, spend plenty of time in shelter
magazines discerning what you love
and identifying your style. Tear pictures
from magazines; take pictures of homes
or offices you admire. It makes it much
easier for your Design Professional to
quickly plan your project if you are clear
on looks you love.
What kind of encouragement
would you give to a women
just starting out her business?
Take advantage of all the great programs
we have in Charlotte for Entrepreneurs.
CPCC offers free business counseling
as does the Small Business Technology
Center. If you are concentrating on
Commercial Design, subscribe to the
Business Journal to become familiar
with what is going on in the
business community. If
Residential Design is your INFO
MOREan Design, the
focus, join one of the local Urb Doors.”
Upscale ithout
tore W n.com
design societies to stay “ S
a le U rb anDesig
sc 79
www.Up (704) 564-74 72
abreast of products and . B o x 672
P.O 28226
tte, NC
services available to that C h a rl o
discipline.
 Finance April Oliver, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

Spring Means Time for

Financial House Cleaning

I
t’s spring at last. The birds
are singing and the smell
of barbeque fills the air. As
you perform such springtime
rituals as garage and basement
cleaning, why not take some
time to spruce up your finances?
Review these important items
now so you can relax and enjoy
the budding season knowing that
your financial house is in order.
Your budget. There’s a good chance
that your cash flow needs will vary
during the summer months.
Not only does summer travel
come into play, but you may
MORE INFO .
Ameriprise Financia
l Serices, Inc also need additional funds
April M. Oliver
for child care while the
com
april.m.oliver@ampf.ors.com/ kids are away from school.
vis
www.ameriprisead ver
april.m.oli
704.540.7171 This review may also reveal
opportunities to trim expenses
and increase savings goals.
Your credit standing. Did you know
that you are entitled to one free credit
report annually from each of the three
major credit bureaus? Spring is a good
time to request yours from Equifax
(equifax.com), Experian (experian.com)
and TransUnion (transunion.com). You
can also get copies at no cost from
annualcreditreport.com. By reviewing
the reports carefully you can find
anything from old accounts that should
be closed to outright identity theft.
Your financial records. Spring is
an excellent time to sort through old
statements, pay stubs, bills and other
records that you no longer need. Be
sure to keep up to six years of records
to support your tax deductions, since
that’s how long the IRS has to audit you.
Your protection needs. While de-
cluttering and filing paperwork, take

28
®
 Spring is an excellent annual review to help make sure you
time to sort through are on track to reach your financial
old statements, pay goals. The process can help keep
tabs on your net worth, cash flow and
stubs, bills and other portfolio value. It’s also a good way to
records that you no determine if your portfolio has strayed
longer need. from your intended asset allocation
and rebalance if necessary.

time to review life, homeowner, auto
and disability policies to make sure
you are still satisfied with your level of
coverage. If you’ve experienced any
life changing events like divorce or
the birth of a child, your needs have
changed and it’s time for an insurance
and beneficiary review.
Most importantly, don’t let your
financial house cleaning overwhelm
you. Tackle items one at a time and
consult your financial advisor for help
along the way.

Your estate plan. Estate planning

is not just for the wealthy. While tax
reduction and gifting strategies come
into play for those with considerable
assets, everyone needs the most basic
estate plan. If you haven’t already
done so, make sure you have an up-
to-date will, health care directive and
basic powers-of-attorney.

Your benefits. Even though fall is

traditionally open enrollment time, spring
is a good time to make sure the benefits
you’ve elected are being maximized. If
you are covered by a health savings plan,
make sure you are using the investment
component to your advantage.

Your investment and savings

plans. There’s no better time for an

29
®
 Family Features

Growing Your
Small Business
30
®
F
or anyone with a small business or who
works for themselves, getting the word
out to new customers is critical. But if you
don’t have marketing experience, how do you
know what needs to be done and where to begin?
To help small business owners get the word
out and reach more potential customers, Bill
Klock, GSM Sales Training and Recruiting for
Yellowbook, has some sage advice.
Use More Than One Method
“Word of mouth is traditionally an effective source
of new customer leads,” said Klock. “But while
referral sources are effective, they are not trying
to sell a product – they are simply sharing useful
information among their peers. It’s important to
actively market your business in a variety of ways,
“With so many affordable
options available, nearly
every business should have
an online presence.”
particularly now when consumers are looking in
many different places for direction on where to go
for local goods and services.”
The most successful marketing plans consist
of a diversified portfolio that includes a mix
of print, direct mail, online and search engine
optimization/marketing (SEO/SEM) components.
31
®
 “Smaller businesses
can probably aim to revisit
their plans in the six-month
range because they have
fewer moving parts.”

This multi-pronged approach helps businesses

get better overall market penetration.

Recent studies have found that nearly half of all

U.S. small businesses don’t have a website. “With
so many affordable options available, nearly every
business should have an online presence,” said
Klock. “Also, if you don’t know anything about
search engine optimization, make sure your
website creator or consultant does.” SEO/SEM
can help improve your search engine ranking so
your company’s website is more likely to be found
by your target audience.

According to Klock, by combining internet and

search optimization methods with direct mail and
print in a marketing program, local business are
more likely to reach existing customers and new
prospects across multiple touch points.

Keep Fine Tuning Your Marketing Plan

According to the U.S. Small Business
Administration, a successful marketing plan
should include market research, location,
the targeted customer group, competition,
positioning, the product or service being sold,
pricing, advertising and promotion. Refer to it
often and update it every three to six months.
Keep track of what has worked and what hasn’t.
Get customer feedback, as well.
32
®
“Smaller businesses can probably aim to revisit
their plans in the six-month range because they
have fewer moving parts,” said Klock. “This
exercise can also help businesses uncover
seasonal trends and evaluate their performance
to help inform key management decisions.”
Get Professional Help
“The success of your business is too important
to not position it well,” said Klock. “Professional
media consultants can often help a business
focus its efforts in ways that a family member or a
part-time staffer cannot. Marketing experts have
the skills to map out a customized strategy, are
more up to date on the latest market trends and
have a knowledgeable, experienced staff with a
proven track record on the sidelines to provide
valuable support whenever it’s needed.”
One popular outsourcing option is
Yellowbook’s 360-degree portfolio of
marketing tools, which offers a variety of
options for small business owners. Yellowbook
consultants can develop an affordable,
effective plan for a business so an owner
can focus squarely on business execution.
Business owners interested in a free no-obligation
consultation can call 1-800-YB-YELLOW
(1-800-929-3556), or submit a request online
at www.yellowbook360.com.

Smart Business
Isn’t Child’s Play
WE CAN HELP YOU...
Improve your marketing presence

Develop an effective social media strategy

Reduce your printing expenses

Fill your buckets with new business

sandb x
S O L U T I O N S
SM

Contact us at 704.201.3354
or Info@InYourSandbox.com

InYourSandbox.com

33
®
 Family Features

How to
Succeed
as a
Small
Business
Owner

M
ichelle Binks has always had an
entrepreneurial spirit. A move to a new
city provided her a chance to start
her own consulting business, building from the
experience she received from her employment in
large human resource departments.

“Starting my company was not a tough decision, it was

learning how to maintain and grow my company to
where I wanted it to be that I needed help with,” said
Binks, president and owner of HR Consulting Solutions.

34
®
Binks was not alone in needing help. The Small
Business Administration says 50 percent of all
small businesses fail within the first five years.
But, according to a Dun and Bradstreet study, 90
percent of successful businesses say they sought
out expert help.
Binks found that help through the Business
Accelerator Program, a free program provided by
American Family Insurance that uses nationally
recognized small business experts to help small
business owners succeed.
“What’s great about the Business Accelerator Program
is the specificity it provides for individual companies,”
said Binks. “When starting my business, I didn’t realize
the huge importance of sales and marketing, but
the Business Accelerator experts worked with me
personally and covered these areas in a way that I
could apply to my business and make a difference to
my bottom line.”
She is just one small business owner who
has seen the positive growth in their business
because of the program.
“Entrepreneurs face new challenges every day,”
said Bob Wright, Wright Business Institute founder
and Business Accelerator career coach. “Overdue
payments, materials that don’t arrive on time,
employees who don’t show up for work, and
more. It’s easy to feel daunted and become
paralyzed. Often, just taking one small step
in the right direction will get things moving
to really take off. The Business Accelerator
program is a great step that will provide
business owners the tools to make those
little changes that can immediately make a
difference in their business.”
The Business Accelerator program experts
offer these tips to help small business owners make
those changes to better their business:
Target your Audience - It’s tempting to try a little bit
of every type of advertising that’s offered to you. But
with limited budgets, entrepreneurs end up with a tiny
presence in each. Instead, select a few mediums that
really reach your target audience and that you can
afford to establish a presence in by using frequency
and larger visuals.
Set Goals - What is your higher purpose for being a
small business owner? What matters most to you?
Write down your answers and keep them close at
hand. Share them with your business partners, allies
and friends. Remind yourself of them when you pick up
the phone, when you face rejection, when you squeeze
in another sales call on the way to pick up the kids.
Sell Hope First - Many sales professionals make
the mistake of getting caught up in trying to sell
the features and dimensions of their product first
– rather than engaging with the customer around
their hopes and dreams, about what they hope to
accomplish. It’s important to understand the bigger
picture in positioning yourself with a client and in
the marketplace.
To find out more about the Business Accelerator
program, visit www.amfambusinessaccelerator.com.
35
®
 Family Features

Flavor
Fusion New Twists on Fresh
Summer Favorites

36
®

Spicy Island Grilled Pineapple
Makes 4 servings
1 large ripe pineapple
1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon original Tabasco brand pepper sauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat grill to high.
• REMOVE skin from pineapple; core and cut into
1/2-inch-thick slices.
• COMBINE lime juice and Tabasco sauce in small
bowl. Combine sugar and cinnamon in shallow bowl.
Brush both sides of pineapple with Tabasco mixture;
dip into cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat well.
• GRILL pineapple slices 8 to 10 minutes, turning once
until golden on both sides.
Serving suggestions: Serve as a dessert with vanilla ice
cream or whipped cream.
F
reshen up summer
entertaining with some new
flavor combinations that put a
twist on traditional favorites and add the
perfect touch when hosting an evening
of dessert and drinks with friends.
In these dessert recipes, familiar
peaches, berries, honeydew and
pineapple get an unexpected little
kick with a dash of hot sauce for
a delightfully sweet and spicy
flavor fusion.
If you’re looking for the ideal drink
pairing for these delicious desserts,
fruit and chocolate are always
a winning combination. Godiva
Chocolate Infused Vodka, a perfect
combination of rich chocolate and
smooth vodka, is the essential
ingredient to create delightful
cocktails to serve at any special
occasion. New York-based
mixologist Elayne Duke has
created four drinks that are sure to
become entertaining favorites.
“Godiva’s new Chocolate Infused
Vodkas add rich chocolate notes to
any cocktail and mix well with a wide
variety of flavors,” said Duke. “They’re
also smooth and delicious on their
own, and can even be enjoyed over
ice for an easy aperitif that’s simply
chocolate perfection in a glass.”
37
®
 Godiva Chocolate Pomegranate Twist
Yield: 1 drink; drink contains 1.5 fluid ounces of alcohol
1 1/2 ounces Godiva Chocolate or Chocolate Raspberry
Infused Vodka
3/4 ounces pomegranate juice
• COMBINE Chocolate or Chocolate Raspberry Infused
vodka and pomegranate juice in a cocktail shaker filled
with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a martini glass.

Godiva Midnight Martini

Yield: 1 drink; drink contains 1.5 fluid ounces of alcohol
1 1/2 ounces Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka
Strawberry wedge for garnish
• POUR Chocolate Infused Vodka into a cocktail shaker
filled with ice.
•S  HAKE WELL and strain into a martini glass. Garnish
with a strawberry wedge.

Glassware Tips for Your Party

• To help guests keep track of their drinks, buy or make some fun wine glass charms for
stemmed glasses.
• To add a touch of style to your party, serve your drinks in an array of eclectic glassware.
Serving glasses in a variety of shapes and sizes will provide the unique touch you might
be missing.
• Don’t stop there: try serving your desserts in some fun cocktail glasses as well. Serve the
Piquant Peach Melba in a margarita glass, or the Honeydew Granita in a martini glass.
• To encourage your guests to drink responsibly, prominently display a pitcher of water with
an assortment of colored tumblers to ensure a glass of refreshing water is never out of reach.
Always have plenty of delicious snacks.

For more fresh flavor ideas, visit www.drinkgodiva.com.

38
®
Honeydew Granita
Makes 5 cups • COMBINE sugar and water in a small saucepan
3/4 cup sugar over medium-low heat; cook until sugar is
3/4 cup water dissolved. Cool to room temperature.
4 cups honeydew melon chunks • PURÉE melon chunks until smooth in a food
1 tablespoon Tabasco brand green processor or blender. Stir in Tabasco sauce, lime
jalapeño pepper sauce juice, lime peel and sugar mixture. Pour mixture
1 tablespoon lime juice into a shallow pan. Freeze 4 to 5 hours, stirring
1 teaspoon grated lime peel occasionally, until mixture is frozen, granular and
slightly slushy.

Godiva Coco Razzle Tea

Yield: 1 drink; drink contains 1.5 fluid ounces of alcohol
1 1/2 ounces Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka
3 ounces iced tea
3 to 4 lemon wedges for garnish
• COMBINE Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka and iced tea
in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a highball glass over ice.
Garnish with lemon wedges.

Godiva Chocolate à l’Orange

Yield: 1 drink; drink contains 2 fluid ounces of alcohol
3/4 ounces Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka
3/4 ounces Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1/4 ounces Grand Marnier
Orange twist for garnish
• COMBINE Chocolate Infused Vodka, Chocolate Liqueur,
and Grand Marnier in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a rocks glass over ice.
Garnish with an orange twist.

39
®
 SPARK Publications Presents
on Heaven’s Couch
my journey with a masterful mentor
www.SPARKpublications.com/ohcbook
Orders will begin shipping after February 17th.
After thirteen years of helping others self-
publish their stories, SPARK Publications
president Fabi Preslar has switched gears,
picked up her pen, and written her first
book. Fabi decided to write On Heaven’s
Couch after a speaking engagement where
she discovered that other women related
to and enjoyed hearing about her personal
Fabi W. Preslar journey of mentorship. Sharing her story
As a young teenager, Fabi Preslar was
introduced to Yvonne – a vibrant,
outspoken French woman who
would become her life-long mentor.
On Heaven’s Couch describes the
journey that they took together and
the emotional and Spiritual strength
Preslar attributes to her lessons learned.
She explains how Yvonne’s strong
dose of reality coupled with tough
love and heartfelt lessons helped her
to transition from a shy introvert to a
successful businesswoman, empowering
public speaker and mentor.
Filled with bold lessons and poignant
quotes, On Heaven’s Couch encourages
readers to love life, appreciate its little
heavens and, in Yvonne’s words, “Be
good to yourself.”
To purchase, go to:
has helped her connect not only with other
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