January 6

Great ideas on the call today. I used to be a Chamber of Commerce board member, so I will make some calls tomorrow. Today, I followed up with one of the schools. The President of my sons' school was very interested and will set up a meeting! Yippee! I also sent all 3 schools an email with the new Business Site NPO video link - I love it! It's much more representative of our great company. Thanks Ginny.

I also had an idea to contact the umbrella organization in Maine for all non profits.
There's usually a newsletter that goes to all the members.

Good things are just around the corner, I can feel it.

January 5

My PowerMall is such a positive, powerful way to help others. That's what I am focusing on this year. I know in my heart that I am doing a very good thing when I promote it. I will be following up with the three parochial high schools tomorrow. Other parents are probably feeling the pinch of tuition payments like we are. All 3 principals took time over the break to review the information, so the time is right.

Today, I called 7 local people to follow up. All of them wished me good luck in my goal to help the food pantry, but nobody was interested. I talked with 5 teachers at the school where I schedule substitutes. Budget cuts are hitting hard. I was surprised to find out that many teachers have side businesses also. This will be my focus for the week.

Thursday, Dec 18

Last night, I went to the Buxton Food Pantry's quarterly meeting at their request. What a warm reception I received! I explained the bootcamp, My PowerMall and what I had been doing since Nov 24. I explained the challenges I faced.....and asked for their help in getting the word out. No doubt it will, now. These strong women do the impossible every day. Our meeting last night was in an unheated room in the food pantry. The group was older than I am, but no one complained about having to go out on a cold, icy night. Their priority was making sure the people in need had food, especially following the ice storm. Our food pantry was fortunate because there was a generator. Many food pantries lost all their frozen food with the power outages over the weekend. One thing I know for sure, Maine people step up when others are in need. I love living here.

Jim and I started a World Changer Mall for our good friends Mike and Betsy. Mike was a State Trooper for many years until he developed cancerous brain tumors several years ago. Betsy's sister sent an email out asking for help. Because of the cancer, Mike needs special adaptations to their home. Have you ever met people and felt like you've known them forever? That's Mike and Betsy. Jim and I would do anything for them. And so, we did what we thought was the best thing for them, set them up with a World Changer mall.

I have been kind of down for the past several weeks. My next door neighbor, Donna, lost her 18 year battle with cancer. I have known Ed and Donna for ten years, they are like grandparents to our kids. Donna has been like a Mom to me. She was a straight shooter. You got what you got, the truth. I remember one time, after my youngest was born, I went out for a much needed break thinking all was under control with my husband home.
Well, I wasn't home ten minutes when the phone rang and it was Donna.
"I hope you enjoyed your time out, you really deserve it. Just wanted to let you know that your boys were on the roof while you were gone."

Apparently, my husband and both neighbor husbands were drinking their Belgian beers on the patio, thinking they were watching the kids.

One thing about this bootcamp that is so amazing. We get a glimpse into 25 lives. These are such strong people. I just want to get together and meet all of you!
Opening up on such a public forum can be tough, we risk the negative comments. But, I am so glad I take that risk because we are all focused on good intentions.
Merry Christmas!

Week 4, Day1

Big ice storm in Maine this weekend, so my travels today were limited to my daughters' schools. No followups this weekend, and no visit to the Old Port as that area is still without power.
I still have three principals of large private high schools reviewing the information I sent them. I called the president of the local boosters today to follow up on the letter I wrote last week and left a message that I would try again later.

Week 3 Day 5

I thought a long time about the past two days. Had I learned anything from my efforts, or were they a write off? I am a visual person so I had to close my eyes and try to picture myself following up with a business owner. Every time I did, it was face to face, then the words came. Maybe the phone is not the way for me? I need to read body language to be able to adjust my conversations. Could it be that simple? Yes, it's so convenient to call or email, but am I looking for convenience or results?
I am working on a simple handout about the Business Partnership Program, cut and pasted from stuff Ginny already prepared. Next week, I'll venture into the Old Port, a really cool section of Portland with hundreds of local vendors. I'll go store to store and develop relationships.
I also contacted BNI. I looked them up online and found a local chapter in Portland. Everyone who attends the meetings is looking for referrals. Do I still own business suit? Yikes! Will I still fit in it?

Yes, my positive energy is back. We had an ice storm here last night and woke up to no power. The kid love it when there's no power because we all sit together on the couches and talk with lots of candles on. I was telling them how I was strugglng but not giving up. Boy, did I get my own words back at me! "Never give up Mom, you can do anything you set your mind to!", "Did anyone EVER promise you life would be easy, Mom?" And my favorite," This isn't about YOU, Mom. Remember why you are doing this."

Well, it IS nice to know some stuff I say actually sinks in!

Week 3 Day 4

I spent yesterday and today doing follow up and contacting businesses. Not good days for me! This is definitely my weak point, I just feel like I'm bothering people when I call them back. I know I have something very positive to offer, but it doesn't translate in my conversation.
Contacting businesses is also not my cup of tea. I understand that it may be easier for some, but I have to feel a real connection to the cause. It's just too much like sales. I had to take an aptitude test once when I worked for a Fortune 100 company. They were looking for female managers in sales. I scored so low on that test that they must have thought I was dead.
I am going back to focusing on non profits and local people. I need to get my positive energy flowing again! I'll find a way.

Week 3 Day 3

I looked up the local Chamber of Commerce website today and contacted the first ten retail clothing businesses. I decided to focus tomorrow on lobster/seafood companies because they're really struggling right now. It amazes me that when I take the focus off my own needs, it suddenly becomes very clear who I have to help. I have learned in my 45 years to follow my gut instincts. There has been a name floating around in my head for a few days, my son's teacher from 11 years ago. This man is now the principal of a parochial high school in Maine. I sat down and wrote a letter to him asking specifically for his help in getting My PowerMall off the ground in Maine. Eleven years ago, I was the local manager for a large grant making foundation. I knew he would remember the work I did in the area. I also had a gut feeling to check an online community chat forum on Oprah. Now, my kids will tell you, I am not a chat room person, I had never done it before this one. But several weeks ago, I got onto Oprah's Angel Network forum under Making a Difference. You can't list web sites but I put:

Ginny Dye's idea for perpetual funding for all non profits!
ajcorbett Posted on Dec 2, 2008 2:26 PM
The CEO/Founder of Together We Can Change The World is on a mission to create perpetual funding for all non profits, schools, charities and the people who support them. She created MyPowerMall as the vehicle. Please take a look! This company deserves the spotlight!

Well, there was a response today! Someone asked for more information! I had not even thought about the entry I made until today. Always trust your gut instinct, and that little voice inside that's directing you!