Celebrating US!
Millions of dollars course through the New York Stock Exchange each day; it is, arguably, one of the most important institutions in the world. So it was a great honor when Count Me In and a group of fabulous M3 Awardees were invited to ring the Opening Bell of the NYSE on September 2. It was symbolic on so many levels. Bells have such significance in this culture—they indicate the start of the work and school day, the beginning of races, the opening of churches, and, of course Liberty itself. At the Stock Exchange, the bell is a literal and figurative representation of economics and lucre. It’s a hopeful sound, a powerful sound.
I’d never been to the NYSE before; I wasn't prepared for the history or the amazing technology, or the beauty of that place! The boardroom where we gathered before and after the bell ringing had sky-high ceilings; it reminded me of a palace. I never stopped smiling and I never sat down the entire time we were there. By the time we left my face hurt along with my feet, but it was well worth it. The celebratory aspect of it was unexpected, as well - there was no speech to give, no protocol to follow. The orders were simply to “Ring a loud bell!” And there I stood, crowded on to a small balcony with some of the coolest, most accomplished women I know, whooping it up before a sea of mostly male traders.
The event also brought back some memories. In the winter of 1993, right before the first Take Our Daughters to Work Day, Goldman Sachs held a breakfast on their partners' floor. Gloria Steinem was the featured speaker, and all of the women who worked on the floor serving breakfast in the adjacent dining rooms came to listen to her. At the time, that was the most women they had ever seen on the partners floor. Nearly 20 years later on the floor of the NYSE we were a little less of a novelty – but we still attracted a lot of attention in our glorious glamorous girlishness.
We’ve also been getting some great results from our most recent group of M3 Awardees, the M3 1000 Denver class who joined the community this spring. Since starting our Blast! Business Accelerator program in July, Wendy O'Donovan Phillips of Big Buzz Brands has generated $30,250 in new business – the single highest sales month for her ever! She also has more than $410,000 in new business proposals currently open – another new record for her business.
LeeAnn Piazzola, founder of DiaperBuds is also seeing returns from the Blast! program. “I appreciate the reinforcement of the personal foundation work and am looking forward to the financial and marketing components of the program,” she says. “The weekly "blast" is totally amazing as it keeps me emotionally on track from week to week.”
Looking ahead to our next M3 1000 event, the City of Philadelphia has proclaimed September 26, the day of the event there, Make Mine a Million $ Business Day! Our Pitch Parties leading up to that event are also inspiring women entrepreneurs to take control of their potential. Colleen Mook, founder of Baby Be Hip joined us for one recently and says, “It's amazing how much one can learn being surrounded by encouraging, smart and savvy businesswomen who are all genuinely interested in seeing others succeed.”
Amen to that! Here’s to more success, more camaraderie, and more women in business. And most of all, here’s to us!
