Our next UP Woman Circle will be held on Saturday, March 23^rd at 1 Riverfront Center West in Flint, Michigan. I will be the keynote speaker and will be presenting: 10 Tips You Can Implement That Will Turn Your Business or Career Around in 90 Days!

I will also be joined be some phenomenal expert speakers. Click here to review their bios and to register.  You do not want to miss this event. Please register immediately so that you can secure your space. You can also visit the website to see a more comprehensive view to the agenda.

Please share this information with your co-workers, colleagues, family and friends.

There is no time to waste playing small. You can make more contacts, attract more customers and increase your income when you pay attention to the new ways of doing business and getting yourself noticed.

To stand out in a commodity market where there are thousands of people selling similar services or products you must STAND OUT. CREATE YOUR OWN SPACE and OWN IT!

Register Now

Grace and Charm LLC
810-449-2827
Natasha Rubin, giftedassistant@gmail.com

Flint, MI—On March 16, 2013, the Stilleto Awards (SWIBA) will be held in East Point, GA, to honor everyday women in the solo and micro business sector. This award showcases the amazing accomplishments and talents of business women young and old around the country that are doing some extraordinary things within their industry and community at large.

Mrs. Walethia Aquil, Speaker, International Author, Branding Coach and CEO of Grace and Charm, was recently announced as a finalist for the 2012 ATHENA Awards within three categories. The categories are: Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year, Coach/Mentor of the Year and Girl Advocate of the Year

For over 25 years, she has coached business leaders and teams, politicians, entertainers, beauty pageant winners, and society’s elite. She has helped thousands of people to boost their confidence, and to improve their bottom lines and their business and personal relationships via television, radio, seminars and personal coaching.

In addition to being a certified Image and Etiquette/Protocol Consultant, she is a former instructor for the John Robert Powers International Finishing School, coach for the Ms. Michigan Beauty Pageant, image consultant for the Urban League, and an Ambassador for Dudley Beauty Corp, LLC.

Walethia Aquil believes in serving and giving back to her community.  In an effort to help alleviate the financial and peer pressure experienced by high school senior girls, My Dreams Do Come True was created.  My Dreams do Come True’s mission is to offer donated new and used formal gowns to deserving high school girls.

She is a frequent media guest and has been interviewed on every major network: (ABC, NBC, CBS.)

Walethia has authored the book Women Who Win: Business Etiquette Tactics that Lead to Success in Life and Business. (Fall 2010)

●  Co-Author of “Sister to Sister:  A Guide for African American Girls” (July 2011)

●  Co-Author of “Madam CEO: How to Think and Act Like a Chief Executive” (December 2011)

●  Co-Author of “Think Like an Entrepreneur: What You Need to Consider Before You Write a Business Plan” (2012)

Click here to read more about Grace and Charm

Here are some basic rules to help you make a favorable impression with friends, colleagues, and potential clients:

Read the invitation and please RSVP.  Some organizations allow for additional guest, some do not, again read the invitation, does it say Mrs. Aquil and Guest, or Mrs. Aquil.

Respond to all invitations. This is a busy time of year, and you may not be able to honor all of the invitation you receive, but be polite and consider it an honor that someone thought enough of you to request the pleasure of your company.  A simple phone call expressing your regrets will keep you in good graces.

Arrive on time. Arriving on time is a power networking strategy.  When you are on time there are fewer people and that makes it easier to connect with the hosts and the key people. If you are shy, it is much easier to manage a room of 20 people than 200.

Is there someone you want to make a connection with?  Spend some time with the host, they know key guests and can introduce you.

Be ready to answer the question about what you do with a response that focuses on the benefits to your clients, the problems they face and the results you create. Don’t start your response by using labels like ‘coach or ‘author’ – usually labels make people stop listening and rely on their pre-conceived notions about what that label means.

Do conduct yourself professionally at all times. This is not the time to pull out the club attire, nor is this the time to drop it like it is hot.  If the attire is not stated on the invitation, conservative party clothes are a smart choice. Remember you represent your company.

Do not head straight to the buffet table. I always eat before going to an event, that way I am not hungry and my mind is not on the food.  Picture this, the decision maker of a company heads your way, they extend their hand to introduce themselves, your hands are greasy and sticky. Go easy on the food, remember this is not dinner.

Plan to drink moderately, if at all. You don’t want to do or say something that you will regret the next day.  Just imagine somebody with a camera phone, some offices, restaurants have security cameras. You never know who is watching.

Have your card in the event someone does ask how to contact you.  However, this is not the time to do a business card blast.

Thank the host, they went to a lot of time and effort, not only is saying thank you the courteous thing to do, it makes you stand out from the many that do not.

Follow up. Most networking efforts fail in the follow up. Intentions aren’t enough.  Action is the key. Networking is about creating relationships, and real relationships can’t be formed in a few minutes in a room full of people. For networking to be effective, you need to follow up with those you meet at a networking event.

If you do not already have a blog, a blog is a great tool to share your expertise with a large group of people that are interested in your industry or service. You can blog about your business, share tips, tools and resources, share industry news that your audience may find appealing, write about a hobby and the list goes on!

As always, your blog should adhere to some simple etiquette rules like knowing how to voice your views in a respectful manner. It is always a good practice to make sure your information is correct before posting. You want to be a point of influence in the right way.

If you need some help in this area, check out Problogger.com. It is a great resource for bloggers. They even promote a 31 day blog challenge. Let’s get to blogging!

I am sure we all know someone that is either in the military or has a family member in the military. We should be aware of this all year round. However, it is wonderful to know that there is a designated time to really focus our efforts on this particular area.

Please visit the Military Family Appreciation link to see if there are any events going on in your area in which you can participate. Here is the link: http://www.military.com/military-family-appreciation-month

If breast cancer hits home or comes up during a meet up, what do you say? How do you respond to someone who has just been diagnosed? What do you say to someone who is a breast cancer survivor?

Well, first and foremost, you are dealing with the same person they were before they were diagnosed. In fact, dealing with a disease as cruel as this usually makes a person stronger. So before you feel the need to pull out some tissue and morn with them, consider some of the following etiquette tips.

Don’t make their illness about you. Sometimes we tend to go overboard with our emotions and find ourselves being comforted by the person dealing with the illness rather than the reverse. When someone confides in you about their illness, allow them to set the tone. They may want to have someone join them in a good cry or maybe not. Just be there to support in any way they want.

The next thing, do not try to impress them with all the facts and statistics you went home and looked up. They more than likely know that information all to well and it could hinder more than help someone with a life threatening illness stay motivated.

Another thing you can do is just be yourself. If you happen to run into your family member or friend, your countenance should not change into one of grief and despair for that person. Yes, they are fighting an illness. That illness is not a guaranteed death sentence, so don’t give them one. Always be upbeat, polite and complimentary- even if it may look like they are having a challenging day.

Dealing with any kind of life threatening illness is not easy. But the more ways you can be charming and conduct yourself with grace, will go a long way in that person’s life.

Because so much information has to go on the business card I recommend hiring a professional copywriter so that all the information is arranged in an easily legible and understandable manner. Most people call the first number they see on the business card; however you should allow people the choice as to how they want to communicate with you, and some people will only communicate via email.

Always have your business cards with you; never leave home without them. I like to keep extras in my car or briefcase. Have your cards handy. I would suggest purchasing a nice card case in gold or silver; again it’s all about your image, and this way your cards are not damaged or dirty from being in your pocket or purse. When you have to rummage through your purse or pockets looking for a business card you come across as unorganized. When attending a networking event, if I have pockets I put my business card case in my pocket; that way I can get to them easily.

Finally, your business card is an extension of you, your business or the company you represent. Make sure it is memorable and persuasive.

So why should this matter to you? It is important that you know the facts and take the necessary measures to check on your health.

The American Cancer Society has a plethora of information and statistics. You can download a copy of their 2012 Cancer Facts and Figures Report here.

My special guest and coach William R. Paterson says “You too can quickly build a multi-million dollar network.”

When It Comes to Building Wealth Quickly,
Your Networking Plan Is More Important Than Any
Business or Financial Plan You Will Ever Create

We only have two more months before we close out the year.  Don’t miss your opportunity to receive expert advice from some of the leading thought leaders today.

This is the call you don’t want to miss

Now you can experience the power of Grace and Charm, our new monthly teleseminar series is comprised of relevant tips and strategies you can implement immediately.

These exclusive teleseminars are designed to give you the boost you need to uplevel your business or career so you can make the income you deserve and the impact you desire with less strain and struggle.

Right now, think about your biggest business challenge or headache. Now imagine being in the right place to receive a mind-opening strategy or solution for overcoming this challenge.

Every professional can benefit from How to Win Friends and Influence People the Grace and Charm Way no matter where they are in their business growth.

Our teleseminars are offered the second Thursday each month from 12:00 -12:30 (Eastern Time)  The teleseminars are complimentary, however registration is required.

Dial-in information will be provided upon registration, and we encourage you to invite others to these free professional development learning events – the more the merrier!

Click here to register for of all the How to Win Friends and Influence People the Grace and Charm Way Teleseminars Series for 2012 and register now for the rest of the year. For questions or suggestions on at topic you would like featured, feel free to email us at: asktheexpert@graceandcharm.com

On September 24^th, local organizations around the country will play host to various events and activities that are aimed at getting women active and moving! I think this is a wonderful idea and will see how I can play an active role within my community.

For more information and to see what is scheduled in your area, please visit the website at FitnessDay.com. If you don’t see something available in your area, set something up yourself. You can get a group of ladies together for a stroll during lunch, set up a lunch and learn, etc.

Take time to take care of your health and learn what you can do better to improve on your health. Part of being a successful woman is being a healthy woman.

Learn more here: www.fitnessday.com