DARE TRIUMPH

One of the most powerful elements of our workshop at NYU was the brainstorming session. We asked our over-40 participants to write their life history to date, and then their perfect obit! Then we asked the most thought-provoking piece, “What is keeping you from your perfect obit?” We asked them to focus on three priorities that they could start working on over the next three months.

We were so delighted and inspired by the results of this brainstorming section─it turned out to be the highest scoring part of the day! Women who never met each other before opened up about their fears, dreams, and schemes—laying groundwork for a career transition, their reinvention, or for their legacy. When it was time to regroup for the workshop wrap-up, I thought I would need a police whistle to get them to stop talking!

This was indeed proof-positive to me that supporting groups like this work! They inspire spontaneity and ideas, create action, and put challenge and potential into the air! And the result? Optimism, hope, and excitement. The fact that several women rose to our “DARE ME…!” challenge and recited their DARES out loud was even more gratifying!

DARE TRIUMPH

We all need inspiration! It really helped our participants at the May 6^th NYU workshop to hear the stories of our role models─ the women who have overcome huge obstacles, who DARED to find a new path, and follow their dreams. It certainly has always helped me in my life!

I’d like to share with you the story of Carol Hoenig, one of our panelists at the workshop─ I absolutely adore her!  This dynamic post-50 publishing consultant and writer had her job eliminated, suddenly, and although for years her friends and peers had suggested over and over that she leave and start her own business, fear had always stopped her. Newly divorced, and having just purchased a home, it was the loss of her job that pushed her into a new life. Instead of hitting the pavement with her resume, she went freelance. She pushed through the fear, believed in herself, and reinvented and booted her life on many levels. She tripled her income, and out of fear and adversity created something even bigger and much more fulfilling!

Yay, Carol! And Yay, you when you DARE to do the same!!

Our workshop on May 6^th at NYU was a personal and professional TRIUMPH for me. It created a template for future conferences─it was interactive, lively and inspirational, focusing in on the challenges and opportunities that affect the lives, career transitions, and philanthropic pursuits of women over 40.

To inspire our participants, we included research about the characteristics of brave and determined women over 40 throughout history. Then, we dived into individual exercises and interactive brainstorming sessions. And our participants loved the quiz which opened with this question:

1. When it comes to interacting with people, those closest to me would say I am a:

1. Dynamo – I’m always in motion!
2. Enthusiastic supporter and team player
3. Undisputed expert, born leader – and always eager to learn more
4. Strong consensus-builder and mentor
5. Efficient contributor – working because I have to

The results of the 10-question quiz really triggered some spirited discussion─even I couldn’t get my usual 100 words per minute comments in there!  But I did manage to generate a laugh at the notion that advertisers think women over 40 are all cougars, cobras and crones, or queen bees, OH MY. Judging from the ads on network news show, you would presume all we think about is plastic surgery, midriff bulge, constipation or peeing our pants!

Thanks again to these participants who said of the workshop,

“…a good motivator and confidence builder and idea generator!” (Donna)

“…so informative and empowering.” (Susan)

DARE TRIUMPH!

The theme for this glorious month of May is DARE TRIUMPH! Having just completed an incredibly successful workshop at NYU, my sense of TRIUMPH is skyrocketing!  So many DARE-ING kick-ass women registered! I am so excited to be helping women over 40 to move on, overcome challenges, reinvent themselves, and to emerge in TRIUMPH!

I want to share amazing stories of women who did just that. We introduced a powerful panel of the most genuinely brave women over 40, no superwomen allowed, who have faced every possible turning point, difficult decision and ensuing craziness in their lives. And yet, they emerged stronger and even more DARE-ING!

How about our panelist, Kathy Gurland, who broke away from the “system” and started a new private practice providing services to people affected by cancer. It is a pioneer service that has never been done before, and serves as a legacy to her two sisters who died from cancer in their 40s.

Or Sheri Lapidus, who did what she calls the “unthinkable.” After a 20+ career in high-powered PR positions, she launched her own business from home, called Mitzvah Market─love the name! It’s a free online resource for families planning Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and in 18 months alone she has gained over 400 paid advertisers!

When I met our panelist Erika Kotite two decades ago, we were both at the beginning of our careers. She built a remarkable career in publishing, rising through talent, drive, and outstanding dedication to excellence, but then faced a foe far more hellacious than any corporate boss:  breast cancer.  She beat that with a fierce courage, and now is launching a new online site for chefs and people who love them, called “Toque.”

They DARED and they TRIUMPHED!

Does this sound like you?

The workshop also included a powerful brainstorming and learning session.  We worked exceedingly hard on it, and the fact that it was so much fun made it all the more rewarding!  My thanks to the participants who were affected by the workshop and said, for example,

“…piqued my personal thoughts and desires…can’t hide behind fear any longer.” (Carolyn)

“…this day has helped me get my DARE on.”  (Margaret)

Thursday, May 6th, 1pm-5pm

New York University
Woolworth Building, 15 Barclay Street
New York, NY

Pre-registration is required, with a fee of just $15—click here to register today!

The NYU-SCPS Office of Career Management is pleased to sponsor this interactive, lively and inspirational workshop focusing on the needs, challenges and opportunities that affect the lives, careers and philanthropic pursuits of women over 40. This full afternoon workshop, facilitated by DARE-Force CEO, Liz DiMarco Weinmann, will provide information, inspiration and education about how women at this stage of life can cultivate and capture their courage, conviction, competence and confidence to create and implement positive, actionable and fulfilling plans for this second phase of their lives. Included will be research about the greatness of women over 40 throughout history, coupled with individual exercises, interactive brainstorms and other engaging activities to inspire and empower visionary, bright, and motivated women over 40 to believe that “the best is yet to come”

Workshop Leader – Liz DiMarco Weinmann
Liz DiMarco Weinmann was fifty-seven when she earned her MBA in Finance and Leadership in 2009 from New York University’s Stern School of Business.  Today, after two decades as an executive with global marketing services firms in New York and Washington, D.C., she is an NYU SCPS educator as well as a management consultant and marketer.  In 2009, she founded The DARE-Force Corporation, www.thedareforce.com – an educational resources company for visionary, intelligent, motivated women over 40.  Liz has written and published numerous articles, case studies and educational materials for and about women over 40, and she has authored the forthcoming book, Get DARE from Hereâ„¢ – Principles and Practices for Women Over 40 to Take Stock, Take Action and Take Charge of the Rest of Their Lives.

Please RSVP by May 4.  To register, please click here.