January 8

Another school contacted me today! So now, I have an appointment to meet with one next Tuesday and one on Thursday. As I was preparing the income calculations for each school, I had a few AHA! moments. What if people bought American Express cards just above the limit they really want? For example, buy one for $1025, instead of $1000. There's a big jump in rebates. For my sons' school, it would add thousands of dollars each month. What if every person at a school or non profit selected their own school or non profit as their NPO mall. I can't even begin to figure out how to calculate that income for them!

January 7

I received a wonderful email today from the Director of Institutional Advancement for a local private high school. He was confused because he received a copy of the email I just sent to the President of the school asking for a chance to meet about MPM. Apparently, he had been trying to contact me since my original emails, calls and letters back in November. For some reason, my email was rejecting messages and all of his were among the rejected. He has wanted to her about My PowerMall for weeks!

I spent the little free time I had today preparing myself for the meeting I'll have this week at the school. (Today was a snow day here in Maine, so I had all the daycare kids from 7am to 5:30pm, and my own five kids. I SO wish I had a very large margarita right now!)
I printed out 3 of the income calculator pages with different scenarios. (Using some conservative assumptions on the number of malls with 500 students, each student setting up a free NPO World Changer Mall for a local charity, family members and alumni and NPO staff on subsequent levels), I calculated the schools income from the shopping rebates on the malls, then the income from $1000 American Express cards used to pay tuition each month for each student, and $500 for parents' monthly bills, and finished with the WCM fees.
I plan on showing him the new NPO video, then the pages of the income calculations.

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!