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Articles from Joy Chudacoff | Selfgrowth.com
- Smart Women Twitter - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2009 from Joy Chudacoff“Joy, do you Twitter?” When I first heard this question about 8 months ago, I didn’t know if they were talking about my sex life or maybe I’d missed the latest fitness trend that promises to help you lose 10 lbs. in 2 days! I was being interviewed via the phone and during one of the commercial ...
Views: 902 - Smart Women, Barbie and Madonna - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, there's been a lot of media attention around the fact that the Barbie doll is turning 50 this year. I couldn't resist watching an online slideshow of the many re-inventions and changes Barbie has gone through over the last 50 years. My heart skipped a beat when the "Barbie of 1967" ...
Views: 845 - Smart Women Know How to Work the Puzzle - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffThis morning, my 6-year-old daughter Jenna decided to work a new puzzle that she received for her birthday. The puzzle, when put together, would represent our solar system. She dumped the pieces out all over the floor and began to realize how “big” this process was for her. I could feel and see ...
Views: 659 - Smart Women, Baseball and Marketing - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffLast weekend was "opening day" for Little League Baseball in our community. There was a Pancake Breakfast to kick-off the season, children singing the National Anthem and of course, a local celebrity to throw out the game ball. We really enjoyed our morning and felt grateful to share in the ...
Views: 623 - Smart Women Are Lucky - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffThe other day, while standing in a very long line at a coffee shop, I struck up a conversation with the woman behind me. We began chatting about everyday topics--the weather, the holiday rush, and then we stumbled on to that dreaded topic of the moment--the economy. I asked her a question: "What ...
Views: 658 - Smart Women Think and Speak in Abundance - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffA few days ago, I was enjoying a lovely, delicious lunch with my Mom at a small, cozy and quaint restaurant here in Los Angeles. The tables in this restaurant are very close together and you can get "friendly" with people at the next table. As my Mom and I were sitting and enjoying our meal, the ...
Views: 658 - Smart Women and The Academy Awards - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffLike millions of people all over the world, my family watched the Academy Awards on Sunday night. People watch “the Oscars” for different reasons. Some people watch because they enjoy the fashion show and like to see the costume choices. Some people watch because they can’t wait to see who won ...
Views: 810 - Smart Women Get an “Entrepreneurial” Checkup - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffWhen we get sick, have the flu or some other ailment that we can’t seem to cure on our own, we go to the doctor for a checkup. The same is true in our businesses. If you feel like your business is not growing the way you had envisioned, maybe it’s time for an “entrepreneurial” checkup. This ...
Views: 611 - Smart Women Get a “Personal” Check-Up - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, my husband Greg was in the hospital for a health issue. He started in the emergency room and was eventually admitted to the hospital. This experience created a lot of thought and reflection for me on many levels. One that I think might be helpful to you is how Smart Women occasionally ...
Views: 635 - Smart Women Ignite Their Fire - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffAs I was getting ready for a day of skiing on a recent family ski trip, I had one goal in mind: Stay warm! I knew it was going to be cold and windy that day, and I wanted to make sure that I kept my body heat inside. This got me thinking about how Smart Women who are living a life filled with ...
Views: 758 - Smart Women Are On the Slopes! - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, while on a family vacation in Park City, Utah, I was helping my 8-year-old son, Jack, get ready for a day of skiing. It was sunny, 35 degrees and gorgeous outside. I handed my son his face mask and he looked at me puzzled and said, "Mom, there is no way I'm going to need this ...
Views: 674 - Smart Women Face Their Fear - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffA few days ago, I was cleaning out a backpack that my daughter used last summer when we were in Park City, Utah on vacation. This backpack was one that she wore every day to her skateboarding class. At the bottom of the backpack, I found a piece of crumpled paper and pulled it out. It was an ...
Views: 693 - Smart Women Know What They Want - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffLast week, after my husband Greg read my article “Smart Women Are a Lot Like Rocket Ships,” he had an interesting question: He said, “Every week you write about the same thing—making your Big Idea happen, Reaching your Goals and Dreams, getting the right support, blah, blah, blah… when are you ...
Views: 614 - Smart Women are Like Rocket Ships - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffLast week, I was having lunch with my mom and my children at an outdoor café and all at once we were shaken by this rather large “KABOOM!” After a few minutes of shock and silence, everyone in the café started to speculate on what caused such a sound. Later that day, we found out that it was ...
Views: 697 - Smart Women Love a Good Party! - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, we hosted our daughter Jenna’s 6th birthday party at Tumbleweed Day Camp. Tumbleweed Day Camp is this secure, natural haven above West Los Angeles that makes you feel as if you are out in the wilderness instead of 10 minutes from one of the largest cities in the world. It is a rustic, ...
Views: 670 - Smart Women Take the Leap - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThe other day, I was listening to one of Madonna’s great dance tunes, “Jump.” It’s a fun song that makes me want to jump up and dance around the room. It also motivates me into thoughts about the “jump” in my own life–to take the leap to the next ...
Views: 622 - Smart Women Are Like Christopher Columbus - by Submitted on Nov 26, 2008 from Joy Chudacoff“Mom, when we get home I need to show you something really cool!” exclaimed my 8-year-old son Jack when I picked him up from school the other day. When we got home, he opened his backpack, pulled out his Social Studies book, opened it up to the last few pages and said—“Look, isn’t this cool?” ...
Views: 807 - Smart Women Visit the Magic Kingdom - by Submitted on Nov 26, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, our family took a trip to the "happiest place on earth"---Disneyland! As we made our way to the Magic Kingdom, I noticed a large sign hanging over the entrance that read, "Where old friends meet for the very first time." I began to smile. This got me thinking about how Smart Women take ...
Views: 632 - Smart Women Understand The BLT Factor - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, my family attended a western-themed fundraiser to benefit our children’s elementary school. It was a fun-filled afternoon with various booths for the children and adults to participate in. Each booth had a different activity where you could try your skills. Walking around the event, I ...
Views: 754 - Smart Women Create The Right Web - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffEarlier this week, I was taking an early morning walk with a good friend and smart woman and we ran into a few spider webs (literally!). It’s the time of year when spiders are spinning and carefully crafting their webs together in a way that will serve and protect them. This got me thinking ...
Views: 653 - Smart Women Move Forward Faster - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffI woke up this morning with two questions on my mind: (and no, one was not, “Do I have time to run to the local coffee shop before my family wakes up?”) “Is what I’m doing in alignment with where I want to go in my life both personally and professionally?” and “What are the things I can do now ...
Views: 649 - Smart Women Give Themselves Permission - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, I was having a conversation with a woman when she asked me a crucial question: “What are the steps I need to take in order to live a life filled with passion and purpose?” It’s really a 3 part process. When a woman is ready to create her own extraordinary life, she needs to first ...
Views: 736 - Yes, Smart Women Are Unique! - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffI recently read an article where a well-known CEO of a major coffee company was quoted as saying they, “now have over 19,000 different versions of coffee combinations they can make.” It was difficult for me to believe that statement. And then this morning, as I was standing in a very long line ...
Views: 678 - Smart Women Practice Gratitude - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffLast week, I was at my Mastermind Meeting and my good friend and Smart Woman, Chellie Campbell, mentioned that she had read an article on how expressing gratitude may be one of the keys to being a happier, healthier person. The very next day, I picked up a magazine which actually cited ...
Views: 597 - Smart Women Are In Control Of Their Ride - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThis summer, our family went to an amusement park in Park City, Utah, for a day of fun. When you take the chairlift up to the top of the mountain, one of the rides offered is the Alpine Slider. The Alpine Slider is a bobsled track that runs for about 3000 feet down the mountain. As we approached ...
Views: 637 - Smart Women Get It Off The Ground - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffDuring our recent vacation to Park City, Utah, one morning I was enjoying my coffee while overlooking a peaceful pond, and was surprised by several hot air balloons making their way high up into the sky. The colors of each balloon were bright, vivid, and unique. Some were like rainbows; others ...
Views: 791 - Smart Women Are 40, 50, 60 And Beyond! - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, as I was leaving my bank in Los Angeles, I saw a stack of magazines near the door, entitled “Life After 50.” And if you have followed the media trail this past week, it’s all about Madonna turning 50. This is a big deal in our society where youth typically rules. Here’s a woman who has ...
Views: 666 - Smart Women Get Uncomfortable - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffI’m 48 years old and I have never been on ice skates. That is, until yesterday. My 5½-year-old daughter, Jenna, has taken an interest in ice skating and I typically take her to the ice arena here in Park City where we are on vacation. I watch her skate while listening to the most incredible ...
Views: 640 - Smart Women Have No Boundaries - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffOur family is vacationing in Park City, Utah this month. I enjoy sitting on the deck which overlooks a large pond that is frequented by ducks and geese. It’s a peaceful, quiet place to sit and ponder a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose. The other day, I noticed the gardener mowing ...
Views: 615 - Smart Women Plant Their Seeds - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffLast Friday, my children and I went to an Eco-Fest at my son’s school. It offered creative ways to think about living organically and sustaining our planet. At one point my 5 year old daughter Jenna wandered to a booth a few feet away from me, and I noticed that she became very focused on what ...
Views: 550 - Smart Women Paint Their Magic Circle - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffI took my daughter Jenna to her Karate class the other day, and after the instructor welcomed all of the children to the class he asked them to “paint your magic circle around you.” I sat there and watched a group of children take their hands and paint an imaginary circle around their bodies ...
Views: 620 - Smart Women Develop A Mindset – “Ready, Fire, Aim” - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThis past weekend, our family went out to Palm Desert to visit my in-laws for Mothers Day. I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Greg’s father, Lowell. I enjoy my “chats” with him. He loves business and marketing and always has great ideas. One of the topics we landed on was ...
Views: 648 - Smart Women Get Back On The Pogo Stick - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThe other day as we were driving to school, my daughter Jenna boldly stated, “Mom, for my birthday, I want a Pogo Stick.” This statement made me curious so I asked her, “Jenna, why do you want a Pogo Stick?” Jenna’s reply was “Mom, it’s easy. You just get on, fall off, get back up, and get on ...
Views: 648 - Smart Women Know “All About Me” - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThis is a big week for my son Jack who is in first grade. It’s his “All About Me” presentation. We spent some time this weekend gathering all of the items that he believes are a representation of who he is right now. This morning, I was walking behind him and watching him carry his box full of ...
Views: 704 - Smart Women Dare To Dream - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, in one of my Women’s Success Circles, we had a conversation about the difference between a dream and a goal. The majority of the women agreed that a goal is something that is attainable while a dream is unattainable. One member said, “It’s something you think about but it would ...
Views: 655 - Smart Women Have A Good GPS - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThere is a beautiful, peaceful bed and breakfast in Santa Monica, The Channel Road Inn, where I am fortunate to spend time with women who are ready to explore, evaluate, and make a plan for their future. It’s the perfect place to think about a big idea or any goal that you want to set into ...
Views: 599 - Smart Women Make Great Choices - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffDo you have a hard time making decisions? When given a choice of A,B,C, and D---can you choose easily? I ask this question because I have found that having to make choices can sometimes be paralyzing for many of us. I was having dinner recently with a small group of friends and the waiter had ...
Views: 598 - Smart Women Have Dreams Too! - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffMy son Jack came home from school today with an excited, “Yippee Mom, there’s no school next Monday because it’s Martin Luther King Day!” A few minutes later he comes running back into the kitchen and asks, “Mom, who is Martin Luther King anyway?” Wow---what a question. How do I answer that one ...
Views: 621 - Smart Women Take Risks In 2008 - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRemember Risk? I wrote about taking risks recently and it really hit a nerve with many women. Women were emailing me, stopping me in the grocery store, on the street in my community. And you know what each of them said? “How did you know?” “You were talking about me, weren’t you?” Well, yes and ...
Views: 624 - Smart Women Think Like 10 Year Olds! - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffDo you remember what you were like at age 10? It’s right before our hormones kick in and societal expectations begin to manipulate our thinking. I remember when I was 10. I was outgoing, outspoken, with empathy and support for those in need. This got me thinking about becoming who we ...
Views: 680 - Smart Women Are Like Harry Potter - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, my son Jack and I went to the local bookstore in search of the book Harry Potter 4. We have an agreement that we will read each Harry Potter book in the series together and then watch the movie. This has two wonderful benefits: One, I get to spend quality time reading a great series ...
Views: 690 - Smart Women Create the Right Internal Environment - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffLast week, I was having a conversation with another smart woman and we found ourselves on a familiar topic to many people with children: schools and education. This woman has children in middle school and high school and she was sharing with me that the schools have two tracks in which to ...
Views: 900 - Smart Women Create the Right Environment - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, I took a road trip with my family from Los Angeles to Napa Valley, California. During my visit I learned that it takes a different environment (soil, temperature, irrigation) to grow different types of grapes to make wine. For example, you cannot create a great tasting chardonnay ...
Views: 600 - How Smart Women Tend Their Gardens - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffRecently, I walked through my family room and stumbled upon papers belonging to my son Jack. He had been working on a kindergarten project. His paper said: Plants grow from seeds. The project required him to cut out four pictures and paste them in the correct order. The pictures were of a seed, ...
Views: 1140 - Smart Women Are Great Gardeners - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffAs I was unpacking a box in our new house the other day, I found a beautiful drawing that my son Jack had done when he was in Kindergarten last year, in the spring. It’s 4 pieces of paper layered together with drawings and these 4 words: seed, roots, stem, flower. There is a lot of ...
Views: 493 - Smart Women Prefer The “Limited” Lifetime Warranty - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffI received a catalog in the mail the other day from a well-known company that provides fine cookware for the cooking enthusiast. As I flipped through the pages, I came upon an ad for these whimsical cupcake pans that just looked like they would be fun to use. I noticed at the end of the ...
Views: 580 - Smart Women Make Amazing Things Happen - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffThe month of March is a very important month if you are a basketball fan. It’s “March Madness” and there are games from every team around the country participating in playoffs and finals all month. We are big basketball fans at our house. I was watching a game this week with my ...
Views: 596 - Smart Women Know When To Let Go - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffEvery day as I leave my house, I am drawn to a large tree across the street, with beautiful branches and leaves. For awhile now, it has been shedding its leaves. Yesterday I noticed for the first time that all of the leaves have fallen off, leaving the tree bare. Nature has a way of making room ...
Views: 710 - How Smart Women Stay Connected - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2009 from Joy ChudacoffI was sitting in a park recently watching my children play with their grandparents and all at once I heard this deep, booming voice from a distance say, “You must make contact if you want to stay in the game.” I turned to my left and saw a coach working with a girl’s softball team – instructing ...
Views: 1193 - Smart Women Are Possibility Thinkers - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2008 from Joy ChudacoffOne morning not long ago, I was driving to the Inn at Playa del Rey for one of my Women’s Success Circles. It was a beautiful day in Pacific Palisades---blue skies, sun shining—glorious. What a great day this was going to be! My mind turned to possibilities for the day. As I made my way down ...
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