Business Women Ignite to Be Their Best

On January 15, 2010, I had the joy and honour of speaking to a group of vibrant and ambitious business women at the first BizWomen Ignite event in Tampa, Florida, an event organized by eWomen Network Managing Director, Karen Krymski. The event was a wonderful success. The day opened with Denise Oatley, a comedic hypnotist followed by 5 speakers in total including myself, Suzanne Caplan, Kim Duke, Marsha Friedman and Peggy McColl. Each speaker had a unique message to offer presented in a unique way. The energy in the room was positive, powerful and inspiring.

I want to congratulate Karen for doing such a great job in organizing the event, but also to all the attendees. As a business woman, attending events such as this one is truly a statement to yourself that you are worth the investment of your time, money and commitment not only for the benefit of your business, but for yourself on a personal level as well. I have learned that being an entrepreneur is an extension of yourself. To be both successful and truly fulfilled, you really need to know who you are, what you want and what you're prepared to do to make your dreams come true. These kinds of events offer so much more than just coming to listen to speakers. Events like this give you the opportunity to meet new people, network and learn from one another. When you take an interest in other people and what they have to offer, they may just reciprocate and want to know about you too. It really is a two way street. I'm a big believer in showing interest in others. I can't help it because I love listening to others, learning about them and how they got to where they are. I guess I'm just overly curious. I believe there is something you can learn from anyone you meet. At events like this, it is also helpful to meet like-minded people as you share so much in common just by virtue of being in business for yourself.

So for those who attended, I trust that you enjoyed the event as much as I did. I didn't just enjoy it from a speaker's perspective. I truly enjoyed the event as a participant as well. I met so many extraordinary women in all kinds of businesses who are eager, ambitious and going after their dreams. I wish every single one of you continued health, success and happiness and look forward to seeing you at other events.

What I Learned About Surviving and Thriving as a Child of Holocaust Survivors

Today I had the honour of interviewing John Franken, an 87-year old Atomic Bomb Survivor and ex-Japanese Prisoner of War, for my radio show How to Thrive after 35 Talk Radio airing January 6, 2010. Notice he has the same last name as me? That’s because he is my dad. Despite the horrors he survived during the war, my dad manages to be one of the most joyful people you could ever meet. While my dad was busy surviving as a prison of war in Nagasaki, Japan, my mother was on the other side of the world busy surviving the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. My mother was one of the most courageous and inspiring women you could ever meet as well. The same fighting spirit that enabled her to survive the war came shining through again later in life as she fought her 21 year battle with cancer that finally came to an end in January 2004.

In interviewing my dad today, it reminded me of the pain, loss and suffering that both my parents endured. It reminded me not only of what a miracle it is that they both survived, but that the universe brought them together and that I am even here on this planet. It reminded me of all they taught me about surviving and thriving as a child of holocaust survivors.

As we bring in the New Year, it truly is a time to reflect on the miracles in our own lives in how blessed we truly are. If you have a roof over your head, if you live in a country where there is peace, if you have a fridge filled with food, a means of income, a clean bill of health and have love in your life, then you are already rich beyond words compared with many others in the world who can only dream of what we have.

We are a society who always wants “more”, yet we often fail to celebrate and appreciate what we already have. When I think of what my parents had to overcome, it makes me appreciate what I have very deeply. It helps me keep my own “whining” into perspective so that I snap out of it and get back on a positive track VERY quickly. They were both tremendous role models for me as I was growing up of what it means to both survive and thrive. Their strength and thriving attitudes gave me the strength and courage I needed when I was battling my cancer, going through divorce, job loss and all the other adversities I have faced. They were my inspiration, especially my mother as she understood first-hand what it meant to be a cancer patient going through treatment and never knowing if and when it would ever poke up it's ugly head again.

We "whine" when the price of gas goes up a few cents as if it is the end of the world or when we have to shovel snow off our driveway. This is not hardship, my friends. I truly believe that we have so much that we don’t even know what true suffering means. It is easy to lose perspective. It is easy to fall into the “whining” trap.

As you start your New Year, I invite you to take stock of all the amazing things you have in your life RIGHT NOW! I invite you to celebrate the good things and keep your “whining” to a minimum. If those around you start incessantly “whining” and you feel yourself spiraling downward with them, then either help them snap out of it, or disengage from them. Instead, surround yourself with people who are as uplifting as you are striving to be as well. Be a role model for others and maybe just maybe you will help uplift someone who may not have otherwise been able to do so.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy and uplifting 2010!

Listen to the interview with my dad on How to Thrive after 35 Talk Radio airing January 6, 2010. Go to http://www.roslynfranken.com/howtothriveafter35talkradio.htm