Women With Know How April 2012 Issue

Just Here!
Tips for
Achieving
Financial Fitness
6
April 2012
Deborah
Matthew
Popular Diets
Dissected:
The Good, The
Bad and The Ugly
Jamie Gilleland
Spotlight
Her life, business
and much more!
wow!
Connect And Grow With Women In Our Community 2
Mimi Zelman
Publisher
D
Dear Readers,
Dear Readers,
I am so excited about this issue! We have Dr. Deborah
Matthew of Signature Wellness on our cover, and she will
also start contributing articles on womens health issues
next month.
We all talk about what we go through health wise
as women, so I look forward to reading her articles. If there
is a subject you would like to know more about, email me
and I will let her know. Our Elite Networking group will be
meeting at her ofce on Tuesday April 24. Our new web-
site is launching with this issue, so be sure to check it out!!
Thank you Jamie Gilleland for all your hard work!
Read about Jamie in this issue! April also celebrates Equal
Pay Day for Women. The next Equal Pay Day is Tuesday,
April 17, 2012. This date symbolizes how far into 2012
women must work to earn what men earned in 2011.
Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee
on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 as a public awareness event
to illustrate the gap between mens and womens wages.
Because women earn less, on average, than men, they
must work longer for the same amount of pay. The wage
gap is even greater for most women of color and Hispanic
women. To Celebrate this day: Wear RED on Equal Pay Day
to symbolize how far women and minorities are in the red
with their pay!
Thank you to all who came to our frst Women With
Know How Making An Impact conference. A special thank
you to our speakers who inspired us all and to our sponsors!
Have a great month!
Mimi
3
C
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Publisher/President
Mimi L. Zelman
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
Vice President Marketing
Wendy Whitehurst
wendy@womenwithknowhow.com
Account Executive
Kim Huf
Creative Director/Designer
Juliana Lievano
www.JulianaCreativeDesigns.com
Contributing Writers
Terri Bennett
Sabrina Winters
Robyn Crigger
Cover Photography
by Cover Photoghraphy by Benny
Dawkins of New Day Productions
For more advertising information
call Mimi at 704-491-1207
or email her at:
Copyright 2012
34
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54
10Why Do We Think
There Are No Fees In Our
401k Plans?
14Six Tips for Achieving
Financial Fitness
18Small Business
Owners: What Are
Your Goals?

22Do You Have a
Career or a Job?
26Learn to Move From
Fear To Love!
28What graduates
(and everyone else)
need to know
32April 16th is National
Healthcare Decisions
DayHave you put your
wishes in writing?
42Popular Diets
Dissected: The Good, The
Bad and The Ugly
48Do Your Part:
Disinfect without
polluting your home
50Five Questions to
Ask Yourself Before You
Commit to a Project
On the
cover
Deborah
Matthew
www.womanwithknowhow.com APRIL 2012
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How did you get started in this
business? I started in business in the
Fortune 500 world, but time and time
again, I found myself drawn to the
training or developing sides of or-
ganizations I was with. As my career
developed, I ultimately ended up in a
managerial role with several startup
companies and found myself manag-
ing and building their IT resources.
The recurring theme I found was the
overall inability of our websites and
their designers to get our vision on
the screen in a timely fashion and
keep it looking fresh and new. I found
our companies stymied by the initial
high costs of designing and the atro-
cious costs of maintenance for these
sites and the overall product still had
no appeal to our customers. After
some personal tragedy, I found my-
self looking for a way to spend more
time with my children ... or at least,
allow me more fexibility than the
corporate world could allow. Having
just helped build a website for sev-
eral friends starting a venture capital
group, I worked out a system that
would allow me to build the site and
allow them to do the updates to it as
they saw ft. That was when it clicked
for me; here was the solution to the
problem of not controlling what the
client can see and being held hostage
by some web designer that really
Jamie
Gilleland
By Mimi Zelman
www.womanwithknowhow.com APRIL 2012 5
doesnt understand your business.
Over the last two years Ive been creat-
ing websites, I have come to love that
I can give my clients that control over
their site that they never thought they
would have the skills to manage. The
best part is that my clients have grown
my business for me through referrals.
Because weve built a great relation-
ship and trust that is what makes Mi-
syte unique. Identifying that so many
IT personnel neglect building a strong
customer relationship is what made
the diference in my business success.
My business has been grown on that
strong customer relationship and word
of mouth marketing.
What is your background
-what were you doing before
this business? I hold a Bachelors
Degree in Information Technology
and an MBA in Marketing. My sales
career started in Washington D. C.
selling computers in the late eighties
and early nineties and that gave me
the desire to get into technology train-
ing. I spent many years as a corporate
trainer for Wells Fargo, traveling the
country handling technology as well
as leadership and management train-
ing. After September 11, we found
ourselves looking for that better en-
vironment for our children, and we
made the move to Hilton Head, SC.
With my background in training and IT,
I did a great deal of consulting in the
tech feld before becoming partners
in a technology based real estate sales
concept. In 2007, I was diagnosed
with a rare brain tumor and stepped
down from that position to undergo
treatment. With the success of that
procedure, I counted my blessings and
went on to work developing applica-
tions for the Palm software platform
with a Canadian frm. Quite honestly,
until now, I never really thought about
how so much of what Ive done has
paved the way for what I do now.
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What is a good early story about
your business? Without a doubt,
the best one is the nature of the name,
Misyte. I love my children dearly, and
as smart as they are (all three are on
the Honor Roll in their respective class-
es), they cant spell very well. When I
was explaining my ideas for a name,
my daughter, who was eleven at the
time, jotted down the name as misyte
and I thought, with an internet full of
made up names like Google, Trulia,
and Zillow, one spelled phonetically
and describing what it really was - me
helping a client build what was, really,
the site they had the vision for, was a
brilliant idea. (And she HATES when
I tell that story!) So, an overzealous
eleven year old girl gave us Misyte,
where your business takes fyte
Another, more telling story is my frst
two clients. They had both come to
me with quotes from large, established
web designers that gave them chills.
One was quoted $75,000 and the
other was in excess of $100,000. I was
able to create the sites they needed
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and give both of them all the func-
tions they wanted for a fraction of the
previous quotes. Both clients were so
pleased with the fnal product, the fex-
ibility it ofered, and the money they
saved, both companies gave me stock
in them as a Bonus.
What is unusual or unique about
your business, in comparison
to your competitors or similar
businesses? Without a doubt, it is
my technical training coupled with a
marketing background. This allows me
to help consider all the options for my
clients and, for want of a better word;
we can translate techno-jargon into
plain English or vice-versa. Many web
companies are either designers (mean-
ing they can make it look good, but are
clueless with functionality or usability
of the site), or they are developers
(meaning they can make it work, but it
looks terrible). I pride myself on hav-
ing a team that can address the clients
marketing needs and their vision of
the site, determine the best design,
and make it both functional and intui-
tive so it is easy for them to manage.
Is there a customer experience
you are most proud of? I pride
myself on having never lost a client.
I think that speaks as loudly as any-
thing else I could say.
Do you do any charity or non
proft work? We have created several
non-proft sites. I was extremely blessed
when I went through my personal situ-
ations, and the notion of passing that
blessing along is very important to me.
One non-proft that I am working with is
geared towards helping teach leadership
skills to high school students. We are
looking for high schools who are inter-
ested in becoming part of the beta test-
ing on the program (free for the students
and the high schools), as well as mentors
who have something they can give back
to these teens. It is an interactive Face-
book style site with adult mentors who
are looking to help these students, and
Im very excited to be involved with it.
Who are some of your most no-
table clients? Candace Muzney, Can-
daceRacing.com; 101thingstodoHHI.
com and we just started working with
WomenWithKnowHow.com and Har-
bourtownLighthouse.com. The last
two sites will launch in April/May and
all of the sites have a large following of
clients and visitors who visit on a regu-
lar, and even daily, basis.
What is an interesting story
about a client interaction you
had? I belong to a networking group
called BNI and we, as members, help
to drive referrals within our member-
ship network. In this particular case, a
client who was also a BNI partner had
recommended me to a husband and
wife who owned a franchise of a large
chain of grocery stores. Obviously, a
huge part of my sales portfolio is show-
ing potential clients my work and web-
sites, and as I got out of the car and
walked into the clients business, I real-
ized that I had no cell signal in the store
for my wireless modem to work. Even
the trusty smart phone, the last resort,
couldnt pull through for me. As we
started talking, I explained my services
and ofered to show them my work on
their ofce computer. You guessed it.
The internet was blocked due to it be-
ing a franchise of a corporation and I still
had nothing to show them. I was more
than a little nervous trying to pitch a
sale with no tangible products to show
when the husband looked at me and
said, Vicki said you were very good,
and we trust her. Were ready to go. I
walked out with the order for a new
website and a 50% deposit. I was
foored that a word of mouth referral
could be so powerful and that any-
one could trust it so much, but they
have been great clients to me ever
since, and even now, they call me for
referrals when they need something
outside the realm of my services. That
means a lot to me.

What are some of your greatest
challenges in your business?
Without a doubt it is the stereotype of
the web designer... hard to work with,
expensive, impersonal; someone with
the social skills of a badger. I take a
great deal of pride in building a web-
site that is a refection of the needs of
my client, and I do this by listening to
what the client wants.
What would you most like our
reader to know about your jour-
ney in business? My business path
has followed a quote by Lewis Cass:
People may doubt what you say, but
they will believe what you do.
Jamie Gilleland/Misyte.com President-Owner
jamie@misyte.com/www.misyte.com
Cell - 843-263-5478
Toll Free - 855 Misyte1 (647-9831) ext. 1
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Why Do We Tink Tere
Are No Fees In Our 401k Plans?
by Joyce Palmer
W
hen was the last time
you looked at your
401k plans fee? For
most of us, the an-
swer is never why would we, if we
are under the impression that there
are no fees
Even if you are among the 20% who
understand that there are fees, its not
easy to get your hands on these num-
bers. Until recent new regulations,
these fees were rarely disclosed fully
and in a clear and concise manner.
Truth of it is, you could be paying too
much and this can have a huge im-
pact on your retirement accounts.
Ryan Alfred, co-founder and president
of 401(k) rating company Bright-
Scope, believes roughly 50% of all
participants, and particularly those in
smaller plans, could save money by
moving to low-cost options within an
IRA. If your 401(k) fees are too high,
some companies will allow in-service
withdrawals, an option to move
money into an IRA while youre still
employed by the plan sponsor. Other
companies wont (to see which side
of the aisle your company is on, check
your summary plan description).
In my frm, we encourage our clients
that being proactive in looking at
your fnancial future is critical. Un-
derstanding the fees in your 401k is
a smart fnancial discipline and could
help secure more of your retirement
dollars. Consider the following:
Do some research
Its fairly easy to fnd out what youre
paying for the investments in your
plan. You can plug the ticker sym-
bols of mutual funds into a site like
Morningstar.com, and it will spit back
expense ratios. Its harder, however, to
get access to other, noninvestment
expenses that your plan charges to
cover administrative costs -- things
like accounting, legal fees and record-
keeping. You can generally request
this information, but an even easier
and perhaps more informative way
to gain it might be to plug your de-
tails into the Personal 401(k) Fee Report
tool on BrightScope. The calculator will
generate an overview of the fees youre
paying and tell you if theyre higher or
lower than average. Once you know
the fees, you can compute the afect it
would have on your retirement dollars
and compare the results to other alterna-
tive plans such as an IRA or an Annuity.
Understand what high means
Finding out your plans fees is one thing,
but how do you know if theyre fair? The
BrightScope calculator will give you a
good indicator, but if youd prefer to go
at it alone, Alfred gave me a few rules
of thumb. First of all, make sure youre
comparing apples to apples: A plan
with a billion dollars in assets will charge
less than a plan with a million dollars in
assets, simply because it has more ne-
gotiating power. Alfred says a low-cost
plan that holds a million dollars in assets
might charge 75 basis points, while a
low-cost plan with a billion dollars in as-
sets might charge 25. On the high side, a
plan with a million dollars in assets could
cost well above 3% in fees. Billion-dollar
plans charging over 1% would be con-
sidered high. Knowing where your plan
ranks can make a huge diference and
will help you determine just how much
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you would need to be putting into your
plan ( 401k) to net the best results.
Take action
The biggest expense in most plans
comes from the investments them-
selves, so you always want to check
those costs, An index fund should
charge less than 50 basis points, says
Alfred, and an actively managed fund
should be less than 1% of assets. For-
tunately, these costs are also the ones
you have the most control over. On
the trickier side are those administrative
fees charged by the plan itself. Man-
age the amount that you are investing
in your plan by comparing the cost
benefts against other options. If you
fnd these are too high and you cant
roll them out of current plan, try talking
to your benefts administrator or your
HR department. Ask how theyre mak-
ing sure those fees are reasonable, and
ask if theyve benchmarked them to see
how they stack up against other plans.
Also ask how the fees are allocated.
For the most part, fees are allocated
based on assets. If you have a large
account balance, youll pay more in
fees. Lets say there is a fee for educat-
ing investors, and you dont use those
resources -- you might be paying to
educate other people.
On the other hand, if the plan doesnt
base these fees on assets, and theyre
instead charged per capita, smaller ac-
count holders will get wacked: Lets say
everyone pays for record-keeping, and
it costs $150 a head, says Alfred. For a
small accountholder who has $1,000,
thats 15% of their account balance.
That may not be fair.
Be on the lookout for some shock when
opening your statements, The new leg-
islation will require plan administrators
to disclosed in actual dollar amounts the
administrative expenses and individual
expenses including legal services, ac-
counting, customer service and record
keeping. The plan will also be required
to disclose in a clear and standard format
the fees for things such as investment
advice, commissions, transfer fees and
sales charges, to name a few.
This information is meant to help em-
ployees and employers make better
decisions about their retirement plans.
I for one think its a good thing and is a
great step in the right direction toward
improving our fnancial literacy..
Joyce Palmer, Managing Partner & CEO
JP Financial Group LLC
6000 Fairview Rd Ste 1200, Charlotte NC 28210
704 543-6269 (ofce) / 704 493-0279 (cell)
888 600-0481(fax)
www.jpfnancialgroupllc.com
14 Connect And Grow With Women In Our Community
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Six Tips for Achieving
Financial Fitness
by Diane Davis
Y
ou may be focused on
getting in shape for swim-
suit season, but take a
break from the gym this
spring and spend some time on your
fnancial ftness. Here are six tips to
help get your investment portfolio
into prime condition.
1. Shed the weight of extra accounts. Its
not unusual to acquire multiple retire-
ment accounts over the years, especially
if youve changed jobs several times.
Consider consolidating them to simplify
the management of your investments. If
you have retirement assets with a former
employer, it could be to your advantage
to roll them over to your own IRA and
achieve more control over how your
money is invested. Consolidating ac-
counts may also make it easier to moni-
tor the performance of your investments
and gives you the opportunity to ensure
theyre properly allocated.
2. Bulk up your retirement savings.
Have you given enough weight to
what youll need in savings to re-
tire comfortably? Are you taking full
advantage of employer matching
contributions and maxing out your
IRA each year? In 2012, you have
until April 17 to contribute $5,000 (or
$6,000 if youre over 50) to a tradition-
al IRA. Sock away as much as you can
to build your retirement nest egg.
3. Grow stronger. The fuctuating fnan-
cial markets impact industries and indi-
vidual investments diferently, and often
in ways that are difcult to predict. You
can strengthen your portfolio by mak-
ing sure your investment dollars are
spread across a variety of investments.
With diversifed investments, your over-
all portfolio is not as likely to be derailed
should one investment topple in value.
Rather than trying to pick individual
stocks and time the market, consider
pacing yourself with systematic invest-
ments and think long-term.
4. Achieve the right balance. In light
of the fckle nature of fnancial mar-
kets, even a well-balanced portfolio
can look diferent than what you may
have expected over time. Therefore, its
wise to periodically assess the volatility
of your investments across and within
asset classes (stocks, bonds, and so
forth) and rebalance your portfolio to
achieve the desired asset allocation.
A fnancial advisor can help you apply
asset allocation strategies, and may
have access to tools that will help you
decide what may be a good match
for your risk tolerance and goals see
tip #6.
5. Trim your waste. The Internet has
made it easy to securely monitor your
fnancial afairs while also helping to
minimize paper waste. Question every
printed piece you receive related to
your portfolio. Is it absolutely essen-
tial to receive a paper statement? Do
you really need to print that 100-page
prospectus? Review the options pro-
vided by your fnancial institution and
take advantage of their green initia-
tives if youre comfortable managing
your accounts online. With regard
to your personal paper trail, keep in
mind that your tax records and sup-
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porting documents should be main-
tained for seven years, while credit
card statements can be tossed after a
year. When disposing of documents,
always use a shredder to keep your
personal information safe from iden-
tity theft. Follow this advice, and your
fle cabinet will be slimmer in no time.
6. Enlist a personal trainer for your
fnances. Like many activities, manag-
ing investments is more funand po-
tentially more productivewhen you
have a knowledgeable person by your
side. A skilled fnancial advisor can
guide you through simple exercises to
help improve your investment ftness
and cheer you on in pursuit of your
fnancial dreams and goals. Together
you can apply disciplined strategies
designed to strengthen your invest-
ment portfolio and help you get in
the best fnancial shape of your life.
Diane S. Davis, CFP, CLU
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Ameriprise Financial
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diane.s.davis@ampf.com
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Connect And Grow With Women In Our Community
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by Andrea J. Buschur
E
very small business owner
has a unique story to tell re-
garding why they decided to
establish their company. For
some, its the opportunity to be their
own boss. For others, its to satisfy a
product niche that no other local busi-
ness is ofering. Still others are thinking
big picture and looking to ofer some-
thing truly innovative that might take
of on a national scale. And for some, its
a combination of all of these reasons.
Regardless, once a business has gone
through the lean and mean early years
and started to establish a reputation for it-
selfnot to mention, a comfort level that
it might be around for the long haulits
time for owners to give some thought
to their longer-term personal objectives.
In other words, what would you like to
achieve now that the business is up and
running? Twenty or thirty years down the
road, what is the measure of success? Set-
ting personal goals and objectives, once
the day-to-day questions about business
viability have been resolved, are impor-
tant, because this will help small business
owners defne exactly what they would
like to achieve, both for themselves, their
family, as well as the employees who
have helped to make the business what
it is. In setting these objectives, its impor-
tant to ask the following:
Am I working to strengthen my
personal fnances and build
wealth? Many business owners be-
come so engrossed in running their
companies that they inadvertently end
up putting their personal fnances on
the back burner. Although its easy to tie
up most of your liquid assets into a busi-
ness, to achieve fnancial independence
and build personal wealth, it is impor-
tant to make personal savings a priority.
By conducting regular fnancial reviews,
and taking follow-up action as needed,
you can help develop and strengthen
your personal fnancial position.
Am I preparing for retirement?
Many tax-deferred, qualifed retire-
ment savings vehicles, such as 401(k)
Small Business Owners:
What Are Your Goals?
plans, are available to business owners
and their employees. The retirement
plan that is best in a given situation is
often determined by the size of a com-
pany, as well as the ages and salaries
of its employees. In addition, nonquali-
fed plans allow business owners to
provide selective benefts for them-
selves, as well as their key employees.
Have I developed an exit strategy?
Although its sometimes difcult to think
past any given quarter, its important
for small business owners to give some
thought to whether the business will be
marketable if and when the decision is
made to sell it. Developing an exit strat-
egy can help provide cash commensu-
rate with the value of the business in the
event you chooseor are forced (due to
death or disability)to divest.
Are you looking to retain the
company within your family?
Your company, like many others, may
be a closely-held business, operated
by more than one family member.
If you wish to keep your company
in your family, its important to learn
about transfer tax issues and develop a
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keep your long-term goals and objec-
tives on the right track.
Stay Focused
Unfortunately, these questions are not
ones that should be asked once and
then forgotten. Personal goals and priori-
ties change and develop over time. To
make sure the priorities that you estab-
lished in your thirties are still the priorities
you have as you grow older, its important
to conduct a periodic review of your
personal and business priorities. Annual
reviews can help ensure your business
activities are still consistent with your
long-term personal goals and objectives.
Pursuant to IRS Circular 230, MetLife is
providing you with the following noti-
fcation: The information contained in
this document is not intended to (and
cannot) be used by anyone to avoid IRS
penalties. This document supports the
promotion and marketing of insurance
products. You should seek advice based
on your particular circumstances from an
independent tax advisor.
The foregoing discussion is general in na-
ture and not intended as specifc advice.
Neither MetLife nor its representatives
are engaged in rendering tax, accounting
or legal advice. A qualifed professional
should be consulted regarding the efect
of such considerations on the matters
covered in this publication.
Andrea J. Buschur
Financial Services Representative,
Investment Adviser Representative
Registered Representative. MetLife
4410 Mint Hill Village Lane,
Suite 201, Mint Hill, NC 28227
Direct: 704-248-9620 Fax: 704-248-9621
email: abuschur@metlife.com
31,000
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by Robyn Crigger
A
s of April 2012, my com-
pany, Compass Career
Management Solutions
OI Partners, will be 18 years
old! I am proud of that accomplish-
ment. However, initially my career
path was that of an elementary edu-
cation teacher. When I told my father,
who was a high school English and
Journalism teacher, of my career plan,
he didnt respond as I expected. He
loved teaching and was passionate
about educating young people (as he
termed them). However, he became
discouraged with all the tedious,
somewhat administrative tasks he
also had to perform, and was also dis-
heartened that many parents didnt
show an interest in their high school
children. Therefore, he suggested
that I also take some business courses.
I grew up in an age when we were
expected to take such suggestion to
heart without question or debate, but
this direction also required that I attend
summer school. Whew! (Our schools
were not air-conditioned, and the sum-
mer school classes were more concen-
trated and loaded with reading and
homework.) This was wise advice.
Later as I began working in the public
schools, I found that I was efective in
delivering classroom instructions and
lessons. Yes, I also had to deal with
runny noses and tying shoe laces, as
I worked around pre-school children
and up through third graders. Though
I loved working in a classroom and
enjoyed seeing a childs face light up
as they grasped a new concept or idea,
over time I felt myself and my inter-
ests change. Then my husband was
downsized from his job, and we had to
move due to his new position, which is
when I began experimenting in difer-
ent types of jobs.
Over the next fve years, I had an op-
portunity to dabble in several difer-
ent jobs, though mostly in a busi-
ness ofce. However, at the end of
those fve years, my husband and I
Do You Have a Career or a Job?
decided to begin our own business
of outplacement services, a human
resource service, assisting individuals
through their job searches. We were
hired by companies to help those af-
fected employees.
As we met and guided and coached
these released employees, I found that
many were never really all that happy
with their previous jobs. A lot has
changed since 1994 when we began
our business, and now our company
assists with other transitional-type hu-
man resource services, in addition to
our outplacement service. My hus-
band, Bill Crigger, has coined the ex-
pression that we are career strategists.
I met with a man today, who I had
assisted when he was released from
his company after working there over
15 years. Though it was shocking at
the time, through our process and
support, he has now been working
over 7 months with his new company,
which he admits he likes even better.
He commented that he now uses not
only his natural skills, but is also tap-
ping into a passion of his! That was
music to my ears.
Job or Career?
That conversation with this past can-
didate made me think again about
the diference between a job verses
a career.
Most of us dont really take the time
when starting our adult lives to give
serious thought and examination to
the selection of our careers. We jump
from high school to college and fnd
ourselves falling into a career path for
a variety of reasons. Yes, we may like
what we choose, but how much did
we research all aspects of the career
and how well did we know ourselves
in order to make the best selection or
the best ft?
At 17 or 18 years old, it is so very hard to
make the right career selection for our-
selves. I wish parents would consider
the value of having their children to talk
to an experienced career professional,
who can help them think through this
process. In addition, shadowing people
in diferent careers is also a good idea in
order to understand the full picture of
any career or industry.
A person should take the time to
examine more deeply what career
would meet more of the priorities of
your life. Ones career should ft within
ones life, which is why we try to teach
people about Career Life Coaching.
No job or career is perfect, but with
careful thought and research, you
may fnd that there is a career that will
make you want to get up each day.
For me, I fnd it extremely rewarding
to help people, who are faced with
a job loss, to understand that this
gives them an opportunity to take a
negative and make it a positive. With
a credible professional, one can be
encouraged and ofered solid direc-
tion for taking those next important
steps to his/her future career. Dont
make this about just fnding a job,
but instead make this challenge into
an adventure into your new career.
Statistics are showing that a large num-
ber of working people are consciously
looking for another job, which is why
more employers should be doing all
they can to retain their good talent.
However, I encourage any employee
or job seeker to give careful thought
about that next position. Is it a better
ft for you? Does it use your skills and
experience as well as provide growth
opportunities? Does this new position
address a void in your life, does it make
you feel good, more productive, etc.?
Choose carefully and wisely.
Compass Career Management
Solutions OI Partners Inc.
8509 Crown Crescent Court, Charlotte, NC 28227
704-849-2500
Fax 704-845-2420
www.compasscareer.com
24
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by Rev. Marcie Williams-Browning
I
have mentioned before and
will continue on the theme that
there is much change afoot. I
encourage you to allow yourself
to really examine your feelings and
then intentionally move from fear to
love. Love heals everything! As I pulled
the cards for the month of April my
sense is that there will be many events
happening around the globe that may
seem or feel frightening. Please know
that everything that we are experienc-
ing is clearing the way for a beautiful
and peaceful world. That includes
things you may be clearing and chang-
ing on a personal level.
Each month I pull three divination
cards and share their meaning with
you. My intention when I pull these
cards is that they will have a loving and
peaceful message for each person that
reads this article. This months cards
are from Doreen Virtues Angel Therapy
deck because each of one of you is an
angel in disguise as a human being.
KNOW that each one of you does have
a voice and that our Creator hears your
voice and knows your heart.
The First Card is Hear and Listen
This card asks you to pay attention to
sounds, conversations, nature sounds or
music. These can come from outside of
you or within. Sounds will play a large
role in your intuitive answers this month.
They will be the answers to your prayers.
Become especially aware of repetitive
songs, overheard conversations that
have meaning to you, out of the blue
reassurances even from strangers and
words you may only hear in your mind.
As you hear these things allow yourself
to feel them. If they feel loving and
nurturing then they came from the an-
gels and it would beneft you to listen.
The Second Card is Healing
This intuitively feels like you have asked
for healing for yourself or a loved one
and the angels want you to know that
they have heard your prayers and are
answering them now. Allow yourself
Learn to Move From Fear To Love!
to realize that you are in control of
your body and your own health and
therefore you must decide and accept
the healing that is being ofered.If your
request is for a loved one please under-
stand that your loved one has free-will
and they must choose their own desti-
ny. Your prayers for them are heard and
answered based on the choice of your
loved one. Remember, we must ask for
assistance from our angelic helpers.
The Third Card is Cut the Cords
This card signifes that we are all work-
ing on removing old, negative pat-
terns, people and circumstances from
our lives. Cutting the cords is a great
visual to remove these old patterns
and relationships that no longer serve
your higher purpose.
Especially, cut the cords that hold fear
in your mind or body. Fear paralyzes
us and interferes with our forward mo-
mentum. Fear can be easily released
by taking deep breathes and as you
breathe picture yourself cutting the
cords that link and hold you in fear.
Final Thoughts and Messages
There are legions of angels and souls
of the most beautiful light, more than
our minds can imagine helping and
guiding us right now. Call on them for
assistance whenever you are not feel-
ing full of love and kindness.
There are many changes on the ho-
rizon which may leave you feeling
frightened or discouraged. Do not be
dismayed because all is truly well and
working in Divine timing to shift our
world and our planet into the place
that our hearts desire.
The Spiritual Coach
Chrysalis Hypnosis Center
5200 Park Road, Suite 111, Charlotte, NC 28209
704-631-9540 Voice Mail
803-493-0332 Cell
http://the-spiritual-coach.info
www.MindBodySpiritBiz.com
Patti Mercer
Left to right: Elaine Marshall,
Mimi Zelam, Wendy
Whitehurst, Sherr DeMao
Sherr DeMao
Making An
Impact Conference
We are so proud of our frst Women
with Know How Making an Impact
Conference and thank you to all who
helped make it a success. A big thanks
so our sponsors: La Vida Massage,
Newks Caf, Alegria Shoe Shop (Rea
Road), Ballantyne Business Center,
CricKet Communications, Lia Sophia
Jewelry, Shaklee with Mimi Vollum,
Simply Skin and Queen City Ballroom.
Our speakers were so gracious and
had inspiring messages. For those who
missed We will have DVDs Available.
Contact Mimi Zelman or Wendy
Whitehurst for more information.
wendy@womenwithknowhow.com
At the Duke Mansion
WWKH Conference Stacey Simms
Wendy Whitehurst
Elaine Marshall,
Mimi Vollum
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by Shay Prosser and Hallie Hawkins
W
ith graduation season
almost upon us we
have been getting a
lot of questions about
how to help young people start of
right fnancially. As the authors of a
book on the subject, we have some
answers that can help people start of
right. Whether you are 22, 42 or 62
you may be asking the same ques-
tions. Here are answers to some of the
most common questions we get from
people young and not so young.
Whats the single most important
fnancial thing to do now that I
have graduated? The most impor-
tant thing to do fnancially is to start
building up your credit and your sav-
ings. Both of these things will give you
the fnancial foundation you want as
you build your future.
Do I need to have a credit card
to establish good credit? Having a
credit card account that you manage
well is a great way to establish credit. Be
careful: charge only what you can aford
and pay it of every month. Do this and
you will start establishing great credit.
What should I do frst: invest,
save, or pay of my loans? Why
choose? You can pay down your debt
and save for both the long and short
term all at once. Well show you how
to separate your money into buckets
and create a goal and a monthly con-
tribution amount for each bucket.
I have my frst job. How much
of each paycheck should I put
away? Twenty percent of your pay-
check should go to savings, and this
should be split between short- and
long-term savings. This is a great time
of life to build up a cash reserve while
you have fewer obligations and ex-
penses than you may in the future.
The habits you create now will be
with you forever!
Im thinking of buying a house.
How will I know its the right time
What graduates
(and everyone else) need to know
in my fnancial life? Buying a house
is about more than just the house; its
about making a good decision about a
fnancial commitment you will have for
years to come. Think about how long
you plan to be in the area, how much
you can aford to put down on a house,
and the stability of your income.
What should I think about f-
nancially if I want to go back to
school? The frst thing to think about
is why you are going back to school.
What will the next round of schooling
allow you to do that your current edu-
cation will not? Does it make sense,
both personally and fnancially, to go
back to school?
I plan to get married within the
next couple of years. What fnan-
cial considerations come with
marriage? The frst thing to do is start
a conversation about money with your
future spouse. Start talking about the
little things, like how you choose to
spend your money and why. Discuss
what youre doing, and what you want
to do to have a bright fnancial future.
Then create a plan together.
If I have the cash, is it better to
pay of a student loan all at once,
or over time? As with all fnancial
decisions, this one is about balance.
If paying of your loans all at once
Licensed in NC & SC
704-556-0707
(Located in Southpark) kruschlaw.com
5950 Fairview Road, Suite 808 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210
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in Family Law`
Certied Superior Court Mediator
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CAN I S URVI VE
DI VORCE ?
A B S O L U T E L Y !
leaves you with no emergency sav-
ings, you may want to consider pay-
ing them over time. Commit to pay-
ments that you know you can make,
and then make additional payments
as often as you can while still keeping
your savings goals intact, too.
Whats more valuable in a job of-
fer: a high salary or good health
insurance? Both are important; look
at the numbers. A company can tell
you what it costs them to insure you
and any dependents you may have. As
with all things, know what you need
and how much you are willing to pay
for it. If youre in good health, a basic
plan accompanied by a job with a high
salary may be right for you. If you have
health issues, great health insurance
may ofset a slightly lower salary.
What can I do now to pay less in
taxes next year? To make sure youre
handling your taxes well, look at both
your tax deductions and your paycheck
withholding. Are you contributing as
much as you can to your retirement
plan? Are you recording every charitable
contribution you make? Are you with-
holding enough from your paycheck?
When should I start saving for re-
tirement? NOW! Do not pass GO; start
saving for retirement. Even if you only
put away a small amount each month
because of debt and short-term saving
needs, put away something. In this case,
a little can eventually go a very long way.
Why do I need fnancial power of
attorney? My parents have always
been able to do all these things for
me. If youre over the age of 18, your
parents cannot legally do these things
for you anymorewithout a fnancial
Power of Attorney. If you want their
help and want them to be able to
speak to your fnancial institutions, get
one in place now..
I want to buy a car. What should I
know? Before you set foot on a car lot,
know exactly how much youre willing
and able to pay for a car. Know how
much you have for a down payment,
and how much you can pay monthly.
I recommend that your car loan be no
more than 48 months. There are many
online calculators that will help you, put
in the amount you want to pay each
month, the amount of time you will pay,
and the interest rate and it will tell you
how much the total car cost can be.
More information on all of these topics can be
found in our book, Get It Together: The Real-World
Money Guide for Graduates order a copy for your
graduate (or yourself ) at
www.shop.moneyandcreditguides.com
l
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by Sabrina Winters
N
ational Healthcare Deci-
sions Day is on April 16th,
and it is an important
reminder for every adult
to share their private wishes about
medial treatments and possible end-
of-life care with family.
Far too many people assume that
their families would make the choices
they would want in an emergency.
Yet everyday we hear stories of adult
children, siblings or other relatives
battling during a health care crisis
over what their loved one would
have wanted in that situation.
The Terry Shiavo case is a great exam-
ple of this. At the young age of 26, she
sufered sudden cardiac arrest and
slipped into a permanent and vegeta-
tive state. She never documented
her wishes about things such as feed-
ing tubes, life support and long-term
quality of life, leaving her family to
battle for years over these questions
in court.
Her husband eventually had her feed-
ing tube removed claiming, Thats
what she would have wanted. But
was it really? Well never know because
Terry didnt make her healthcare wishes
known to her closest family and friends.
Lets be honest, at the age of 26, many
of use were not thinking about these
issues. Maybe because we saw death
happening at an older age or simply, no
one told us we had choices.
But it is not enough to just tell some-
one about your wishes. You need to
clearly document your preferences in
writing, as well. Keep in mind emo-
tions can run high during a health
care crisis. It may be very difcult
for your loved ones to make a deci-
sion that could ultimately end your
life. Having your wishes spelled out
in writing helps make these types of
April 16th is National
Healthcare Decisions DayHave
you put your wishes in writing?
decisions easier for them, especially
in cases when other family members
dont agree.
So in honor of National Health Care
Decisions Day, I encourage you to
start tough conversations with loved
ones about your personal medical
preferences for medical or long-term
care. Here are some important ques-
tions to consider:
Whatareyourthoughtsonfeeding
tubes, life support and other artifcial
life saving devices?
Isthereanytypeofmedicalcareyou
would NEVER want?
Ifyouwerepermanentlydisabled
or incapacitated, what things would
contribute or take away from your
quality of life?
Whodoyoutrusttomakeimportant
medical decisions if you are unable to
speak for yourself?
Whatareyourthoughtsonnursing
home vs. in-home health care? Who
would you trust to manage your
long-term care?
These are certainly not up lifting or
comfortable conversations to have for
many. But, imagine how much more
heartbreaking the future conversa-
tion about ending your life may be for
your family. Talk them over with loved
ones and get something in writing
that spells out your wishes and the
care you want if something happens
to you. If you have questions, talk to
your attorney and get something in
writing before an unforeseen emer-
gency strikes.
Sabrina Winters, Attorney at Law, PLLC
15720 John J. Delany Dr. Suite 300
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
swinters@sabrinawinterslaw.com
www.ncestateplanninginfo.com
704-843-1446
36 Connect And Grow With Women In Our Community
Dr. Matthew and her team at
Signature Wellness strive to help
people achieve optimal health
so they may enjoy the best
quality of life today, minimize
risks for chronic disease and
preserve an excellent quality of
life for the future.
Deborah
Signature Wellness
Matthew
D
Dr. Matthew
Dr. Matthew is the founder and Medical Director of Sig-
nature Wellness. She is Board Certifed in Anti-Aging and
Regenerative Medicine by the American Academy of Anti-
Aging Medicine. In addition, she has advanced fellowship
training in Functional Medicine. Her interest in promoting
healthy living led her to develop The Center for Optimal
Health. Dr. Matthew treats men, women and children of all
ages. Dr. Matthew is also Board Certifed in Pediatrics.
I am thrilled to feature Dr. Matthew on this months cover!
Women I know and talk to get frustrated when our bodies
start to change and I hope this article gives you our readers
Advertising and Graphic Design
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some insight in ways to get through
some of the issues we all go through.
Dr. Matthew specializes in Bioidentical
hormone replacement and is frst phy-
sician in our area that does this type
of therapy. She also is a board certifed
examiner, testing other physicians who
want to practice in this feld and travels
the world to do certifcations.
.
Why did you choose to become a
physician? I have been interested in
health and wellness all my life. Initially
I enrolled in a Masters of Physiology
program but I quickly realized that I
could put the knowledge into action
by choosing a profession in health
care. My father is a medical doctor
and medicine seemed like a natural
choice for me.
What is your background - what
were you doing before this profes-
sion? I was a ftness instructor and in
my fourth year of study working to-
wards a Masters in physiology before
I went into medicine. When I went to
medical school, there was no training
available in wellness or holistic medi-
cine (I didnt even realize that these
things existed at that time!). In fact
there were only a handful of tradition-
al choices so I chose pediatrics since
Logos, ads, newsletters, packaging design,
restaurant menus and much more!
this involved a signifcant amount of
preventive medicine.
What is a good early story about
your medical practice? I was happy
practicing as a pediatrician until I
learned that there were other more
total body approaches to care. I was
seeing up to 40 patients a day and
refexively treating disease as it pre-
sented. I often felt like I hadnt had the
opportunity to make a good con-
nection with my patients. After seri-
ous consideration of what I thought
I would want as a patient, I decided
to pursue my original passion that
directed me to medicine in the frst
place. My plan was to focus on health
and wellness and spend more time
with patients so that I could make
a more meaningful impact on their
life. I chose to retire from pediatrics,
retrain and restart in nutrition-based
holistic medicine with an emphasis
on bio-identical hormones. Now I
am able to have a much greater im-
pact on my patients health and I have
much more job satisfaction.
What are some interesting statistics
about your business? Most of our
patients are women, ages 35-55. It
is common for them to bring in their
husbands and children after a few
months when they see the diference
in our approach and feel the diference
in their lives. I am the only medical
doctor in the practice. I have 3 admin-
istrative staf members and 4 clinical
staf members. We have been grow-
ing every year, largely through word of
mouth, even through the recession.
What is unusual or unique about
your practice, in comparison to
your competitors or similar busi-
nesses? Women face health chal-
lenges as they age. Hormonal chang-
es, such as PMS, perimenopause and
menopause can cause mood symp-
toms, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain
as well as increase risk for chronic
disease such as osteoporosis, heart
disease and cancer. Chronic stress
causes changes in cortisol, our stress
hormone, and this can occur at any
age. Cortisol can cause issues with
other hormones that regulate sexual
desire and arousal, such as testos-
terone, leading to decreased libido.
When women present to their doctor
complaining of fatigue, weight gain,
anxiety, insomnia and low libido the
typical reaction is prescriptions: for
anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills, ap-
petite suppressants, anti-depressants.
The most common complaint I here
from patients is I just dont feel like
myself anymore. There is no prescrip-
tion drug for that! But by improving
nutritional health and becoming hor-
monally balanced women can have
relief of these symptoms, and can
expect to feel like themselves again.
Is there a patient experience you
are most proud of? A recent pa-
tient came in complaining of anxiety,
insomnia, night sweats, weight gain,
bloating, irritability and waking every
night at 2 am. She felt sure that her
hormones were to blame, but her
doctor told her that at 40 she was too
young to be menopausal. In fact she
was having heavy periods with PMS
that lasted so long, she really only had 1
good week per month. She was ofered
birth control pills, anti-depressant medi-
cation and sleeping pills. Her husband
had a vasectomy, so she didnt want to
take birth control and she didnt think
she was depressed. By helping her
to balance her hormones with bio-
identical hormones, eliminating some
foods we found she was sensitive to,
using some nutritional supplements
and helping her to fnd some balance
between work and home responsibili-
ties she now feels great, sleeps well, her
periods are improved and she has lost
weight. Her family appreciates the
diference they see in her too. This is a
very typical story.
Do you do any charity or non-proft
work? We have had patients whom
we really felt that we could help but
who struggled to pay for their visits,
and we do what we can to help them
by waiving fees. We have had patients
who felt so much better that they
donated money to help pay for others
to receive care.
What are some of your greatest
challenges in your business? Pa-
tients are very appreciative of the
care we provide and easily see the
At Signature Wellness, we
evaluate your current health
as well as your potential
future health risks using a
holistic approach.
benefts. In medical school we were
provided with an hour or two of train-
ing on nutrition and none on the
benefts of exercise. Our understand-
ing is evolving at a rapid pace and it is
difcult to keep up in all areas. Other
medical doctors may not understand
our approach, and doctors are trained
to be skeptics, so gaining acceptance
from some in the medical community
is an ongoing challenge. I see great
progress in the past few years as more
and more doctors are becoming
informed about nutritional supple-
ments, nutrition and bio-identical
hormones. In fact, I am starting to see
healthcare professionals from a vari-
ety of felds as patients now.
What would you most like our
reader to know about your jour-
ney in business? Starting a business
and changing careers takes cour-
age. There is no business training in
medical school for doctors. It took
a long time to become established,
maybe longer than normal since we
opened just as the economic down-
turn started. I considered giving up
many times in the beginning. I am
so glad that I persisted and stayed
focused on my original plan of pro-
viding care the way I would want it
as a patient. The patients story of
improvement was the encourage-
ment and motivation that helped me
through those frst few years. I love
what I do and I love seeing my pa-
tients lives improve. I would not want
to be doing anything else.
If you could stand up and defend
anything, what would it be? I
would defend the right of patients to
obtain integrative, holistic health care.
We have serious health care problems
in this country, both in terms of the
CLICK ON AD TO VIEW OUR VIDEO
health of Americans and our ability to
pay for health care. I think that health
care reform needs to be about more
than just talking about the way that
we are going to pay for medicine in
the future - we need to talk about
changing the way we practice medi-
cine for the future.

Dr. Matthew and her team at Signature
Wellness strive to help people achieve
optimal health so they may enjoy the
best quality of life today, minimize risks
for chronic disease and preserve an
excellent quality of life for the future.
Signature wellness also ofers Aesthet-
ic Medicine. Facials, Botox, Juvederm,
and Sclerotherapy for spider veins.
Here are some commonly asked
questions:
What is menopause?
Menopause is the time in a womans
life when her ovaries stop produc-
ing estrogen and progesterone. On
average, this occurs at age 52, but can
occur much earlier or later. Typical
symptoms may include hot fashes,
depressed mood, low libido, insomnia
and vaginal dryness.
What is perimenopause?
As a woman approaches menopause,
her hormone production may fuctu-
ate wildly, causing night sweats, mood
swings, anxiety, irritability, sleep prob-
lems, and more. Some women experi-
ence symptoms early in some cases
10-15 years before clinical menopause.
What can be done?
An option is hormone replacement
therapy to provide relief from symptoms
due to menopause and perimenopause.
What are bioidentical hormones?
The term bioidentical means the hor-
mone molecule is structurally identi-
cal to the hormones produced by the
human body. Bioidentical hormones
are available in many forms including
patches, pills, topical creams, vaginal
suppositories and pellets inserted under
the skin. Some are available from phar-
maceutical companies and are FDA ap-
proved and some are specially prepared
by a compounding pharmacy.
Deborah Matthew MD
Specializing in Hormone Restoration
for Men and Women
Board Certifed in Anti-Aging Medicine
by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
Board Examiner for ABARM
Advanced Fellow Functional Medicine
Board Certifed in Pediatrics
Board Member NC Integrative Medicine
Society Medical Director since 2006
Signature Wellness
3125 Spring Bank Lane, Suite A
Charlotte, NC
704-752-9346
h
e
a
l
t
h by Sunny Ayala
W
e all know them. Some
of us have tried them.
Some of have even
invented new ones!
Diets. As numerous as the stars in the
sky and most of them equally as hard
to reach. Throughout the years they
have evolved and changed and mor-
phed to adapt to the age. Amidst the
evolution, one thing has remained; the
majority are not sustainable.

I actually dont even like the word
diet because of its connotation. I
mean, just look at the frst three let-
ters! Three quarters of the word is
destructive! However, if we use the
word diet to indicate simply what we
are eating, then its more palatable.
My clients are always asking me
about the benefts of these crazy
diets and which ones they should
try. So I thought it would be a good
idea to take the most popular diets
out there and break them down. The
good parts, the bad parts, and the re-
ally horrible atrocities in each one. Of
course the list will not be exhaustive,
but will hit the ones we most hear
about each day.
No Carb Diets (Atkins):
No carb, high protein, high fat
The Good: It eliminates bad carbs and
is efective for short term weight loss
The Bad: It eliminates good carbs
which your body needs for energy,
it increases fat intake to a very un-
healthy level, it does not encourage
fruits and vegetables which are the
bodies favorite form of nutrients and
antioxidants, and it causes the person
to feel deprived.
The Ugly: It sends your body into a
state called ketosis. High ketone levels
can cause dehydration, constipation,
kidney and gall stones,osteoporosis
and liver damage. The diet also sig-
nifcantly increases the bodys acidity
which makes it a prime candidate for
every type of disease out there.
The Conclusion: Its a way to lose
weight, but its not a way to be healthy
Popular Diets Dissected:
Te Good, Te Bad and Te Ugly
Low Carb Diets (South Beach):
No carbs, then few carbs
The Good: It eliminates bad carbs
and is efective for short to mid term
weight loss, it encourages eating
fruits and vegetables
The Bad: It promotes consumption
of carcinogens in the form of artifcial
sweeteners, and causes the person to
feel deprived
The Ugly: Its not quite as ugly as At-
kins because the body, once in keto-
sis, does not stay there for long since
the carbs are reintroduced, this giving
the body some glucose to burn
The Conclusion: If you can follow the
plan without feeling deprived and
without eating the carcinogens (fake
sugars) it could be a viable option
Shake Diets (Medifast):
Drink shakes all day, low calorie
The Good: Generally there is a good
amount of protein in these diets
The Bad: Where do I start? Consum-
ing too few calories is as unhealthy
as consuming too many, there is no
whole food eating encouraged at all,
Our Farmers
Thank You
cabotcheese.coop
Some of the 1,200 farm families
who own Cabot.
it causes the person to feel extremely
deprived, most people dont stick
with it until the end, its not a realistic
lifestyle in todays society, it generally
does not even result in weight loss by
the end of the program due to lack of
stick-to-it-evenness
The Ugly: It doesnt give the body the
nutrition or energy it needs to func-
tion properly, it is completely unsus-
tainable and by the time you realize
you cant live like that any longer
your metabolism has slowed down
so incredibly from the lack of calories
that once you begin eating real food
again, you gain twice as much weight
back as youve lost
The Conclusion: It is not a good way
to lose weight or be healthy
Boxed meals (Nutrisystem):
Eat prepared, packaged meals
The Good: No-brainer, easy, can lead
to some weight loss
The Bad: No-brainer - it removes the re-
sponsibility and the education of choos-
ing and preparing healthy foods for you
The Ugly: Its not sustainable in the
long run. Eventually you will have to
stop ordering their meals and by de-
fault, you will go back to the style of
eating you are familiar with that lead
you to need that diet in the frst place,
you will probably gain back what you
lost after you stop the program
The Conclusion: Its not a good long-
term diet
Meat and Veggie Diets (Paleo):
Remove grain, dairy, refned
sugar, legumes
The Good: It removes bad carbs,
encourages most fruits and veggies, it
results in weight loss
The Bad: It also removes legumes,
a very important plant-food type, it
removes dairy (while that could be a
good thing, its difcult for most peo-
ple to do), it can cause deprivation
The Ugly: It decreases the carbs to a
point where if you are an avid exercis-
er, you could feel sluggish and tired;
if you ever stopped the diet and re-
turned to the no-list you could gain
more weight back than you lost due
to the type of restriction
The Conclusion: If you know you will
never want to eat anything on the no
list ever again, and you are not an avid
exerciser, it could be a viable option
Counting Calories
(Weight Watchers): Use calories
or points to track what you eat
The Good: It encourages whole food,
fruits and veggies, no deprivation,
exercise and personal responsibility,
its sustainable long term and results in
mid to long term weight loss
The Bad: Its tricky to learn how to
keep track, its time consuming
The Ugly: Its really an attractive diet
The Conclusion: If you are willing to
put in the time to track, its a healthy
and efective way to lose weight
Calorie Ratios (The Zone):
Pay equal attention to the type and
the amount of calories you eat
The Good: It encourages not just to
eat the right number of calories for your
body and lifestyle, but to eat the right
kind of calories, it results in energy, and
weight loss with no deprivation
The Bad: It takes some efort and time
to fgure the right type of calories
The Ugly: Its another very
attractive diet
The Conclusion: If you are willing to
put in the time, its a healthy and ef-
fective way to lose weight
So we see that our bodies need carbs,
they need protein, and they need fat.
They need whole food, and a variety
of it. Our lifestyle needs indulgences,
but not too many. We dont do well
long tern with deprivation. Its impor-
tant to understand how many calories
you need and what kind. Its vital to
have long term success and not ride
the roller coaster of weight loss - weight
gain. Remember, you are a unique
individual. You have your own meta-
bolic rate, your own set of cravings and
exercise preferences. What works for
your neighbor or your grandma, might
not work for you. So in your quest to
fnd the perfect weight loss diet, keep in
mind the few rules that apply to us all:
Our bodies were created for whole
foods (ones you can pick, pull, shoot
or catch) You need protein, carbs
and fats. Nobodys body enjoys large
amounts of processed foods, artifcial
sweeteners or refned sugar
Deprivation has never lead to success
If you want help fguring out which
plan is best for you, give me call. Well
sit down for a complimentary consul-
tation and discuss your individuality!
Heres to your health.
Sunny Ayala
Owner of Fitness Instruction Today
8041 Corporate Center Drive Suite 100
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
www.ftnessinstuctiontoday.com
ayalasigns@aol.com
Phone: (704) 763-5662
If you or a loved one needs help
or you want to help save lives,
contact us today at 704.705.1850
or visit www.lls.org/nc
P
h
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t
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b
y

N
i
g
e
l

P
a
r
r
y
/
C
P
i
Dessa G.
non-Hodgkin
lymphoma survivor
Since 1949, the survival rate for many blood
cancer patients has tripled. In some cases
quadrupled. Whats one more survivor?
Beautiful.
g
o
i
n
g

g
r
e
e
n by Terri Bennett
W
hen it comes to clean-
ing our homes, most
of us want to make
sure of one thing -
that we are doing a deep clean and
actually disinfecting the rooms and
surfaces in our house. Heres the
thing. You dont need chemical-based
cleaners to kill germs. Do Your Part
and fnd safer and just as efective
disinfecting options that will work for
every spot in your home.

Vinegar is my favorite all natural disin-
fectant. Put equal parts vinegar and
hot water in a spray bottle and get to
work. This acidic solution eats away at
most germs on everything from counter
tops to toilet bowls. The exception is
marble and other porous surfaces. Vine-
gar will damage those. Use it full strength
for tough germs. And dont worry about
smelling the vinegar for long. It dissipates
as the vinegar dries leaving a natural
clean scent thats way better than inhal-
ing synthetic fragrances that are known
contributors to indoor air pollution.
Hydrogen peroxide is another natural
and non-toxic option that I recom-
mend for cleaning and disinfecting.
It quickly kills bacteria, mold, and
mildew. You can use it full strength
on things like cutting boards or dilute
it with water for the perfect cleaner
for fnished surfaces such as painted
walls. Mix only what you need as wa-
ter and exposure to light reduces the
solutions cleaning properties.

If you dont want to make your own
disinfectants at home, you have more
store bought options than ever. Some
of my go to and ready-made options in-
clude Seventh Generation. Their clean-
ers and disinfectants are made using
plant extracts. And, new Proxi products
use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect sur-
faces throughout your home.

Of course bleach works great too but
the fumes can be dangerous, espe-
cially for little ones at home. I do use
it sparingly in my home and always
heavily diluted with water. A little bit
Do Your Part: Disinfect
without polluting your home
of bleach goes a long way. A quarter
teaspoon of bleach mixed with 12 oz
of water makes a powerful disinfec-
tant but again, mix as needed be-
cause it loses efectiveness with time.
This is a great solution for porous
surfaces where you cant use vinegar.

The last thing any of us want to do
when disinfecting at home is to leave
a trail of toxic chemicals in our wake.
Do Your Part to seek out safer options
that will save you money and wont
pollute your home.
Terri Bennett
A veteran TV meteorologist, eco-expert and author
of Do Your Part: A practical guide for everyday
green living available at DoYourPart.com.
Send questions to terri@doyourpart.com
Overture introduces you and your colleagues to
potential clients using our acclaimed multimedia
presentation. Many businesses, especially those
in professional services, need more than a website
and print collateral.
The prospect has to meet you. Establishing personal
chemistry is the key to cultivating a relationship, then
earning a clients business.
Business Development Opportunity With Every Email.
To nd out more, call Karen Hund at 704.907.4376 or visit our website www.cv-vision.com
Meet Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere.
C
r
i
s
t
i
n
a
s

C
o
r
n
e
r
by H. Cristina Cassidy
K
nowing what work is
right for you is one of
the biggest challenges in
running a business. You
want to take on work that expands
your client base and increases your
sales. You dont want to get into the
weeds by doing projects that dont ft
your scope of work or that you never
really wanted to do in the frst place.
Learning new skills and stretching
your knowledge base are good for
you and your business. Sometimes
you will agree to do a project that is
out of your comfort zone, but that
you know you are capable of doing.
At these times, its always good to
say a resounding yes to a chance to
grow you and your business.
Other times, however, it might be
good to just walk away from a po-
tential client and/or project for many
reasons, even if it is something you
know how to do very well. There are
no hard and fast rules, and you may
take on a project that you wish you
hadnt and learn a great deal about
what you dont want to get involved
with in the future--or vice versa. The
important thing to remember is that
you have a choice. You are the one
who gets to decide where your busi-
ness is headed.
Here are fve questions to ask
yourself before you commit to a par-
ticular project :
1. What is my frst gut reaction to
talking with a prospective client?
If you fnd yourself feeling uncomfort-
able about the interaction, chances
are this might not be a good match
for you. Check in with yourself and
how you are responding during the
conversation. Does your stomach feel
tight? Is there something about the
persons tone that bothers you? Are
you a laid back kind of person, and
your possible client seems tense or
extremely business-like? Or is the sce-
nario the exact opposite? Trust your
Five Questions to Ask Yourself
Before You Commit to a Project
gut. If you are feeling uncomfortable
from the get-go, chances are there
may be friction down the road.
2. What do I know about this cli-
ent and their company? Just as your
client probably has done research
before calling you, you should get the
low-down on the client. Google the
companys name and fnd out what
people have to say about it. Use your
network of friends and colleagues
and ask if anyone knows about this
company and/or the person you
talked to from the company. Just
because someone is seeking your
services doesnt mean that you have
to work with them, especially if others
have had negative experiences with
their company.
3. Am I the best ft for the prospec-
tive clients needs? You may be really
great at what you do, and it may be
related to what the client is looking for,
but you need to ask yourself whether
you are the absolute best person for
the job. If you are, by all means, go for
it. But if you have strong doubts, be
honest with the client. Tell them you
would love to do the project, but you
think you know someone who would
be more attuned to their needs. Then,
refer them to one of your colleagues.
Will you be hurting your business? No.
Most likely, the client will be grateful
for your honesty, and your colleague
will appreciate your referral.
4. Am I able to do the project right
now? Sometimes you may feel that
passing on a project would be a lost
opportunity, so you take it, even
though you are on total overload. If
you do this often, you probably dont
sleep much and may rarely spend
time with friends and family. Beware
of this trap. Do what you have time to
do, or else you may end up hurting
your business by over-promising and
under-delivering.
5. Why do I want to commit to this
project? This is probably the most
important question of all. Have you
ever heard yourself say, I dont know
WHY I ever took this project on! If
you know your motives, then you can
make better decisions about the work
you choose to do. If, for example, you
know that the project doesnt interest
you, but you need the income, then
you can frame your attitude about the
project with that in mind. If you are just
starting out and need exposure, then
taking on a project for the market-
ing value of it may be worth it, even
though it might not be something
you are that interested in. Sometimes
you may even take on a project for less
money because you are simply pas-
sionate about the subject matter and
want to help the client get their mes-
sage out into the world.
The bottom line is simple. The work
you choose to do, is just that--a
choice. Asking these few simple ques-
tions will help you make positive and
informed decisions about the work
you do.
H. Cristina Cassidy
Cristina Cassidy Productions
Owner and president of Cristina Cassidy Produc-
tions, a full service video production company
that produces a variety of video formats, includ-
ing video for the web, educational and
instructional videos.
www.cristinacassidyproductions.com
www.concertofortwobrothers.com
info.cristinacassidy@me.com
w
Foods
Healthier Smile
for a
Your dentist can provide a list of
foods to steer clear of if youre
looking to avoid cavities, stain-
ing, and enamel loss. But did you
know there are certain foods you
can eat that will actually help
keep your mouth healthy?
Nutritionist Karen Krchma and Dr.
Shawn Frawley, along with the
American Academy of Cosmetic
Dentistry (AACD) have devel-
oped recipes incorporating foods
that beneft oral health in a free
Recipes for a Healthier Smile e-
booklet. Use these food tips and
try a delicious recipe from these
experts to ensure you receive a
healthy report during your next
trip to the dentist.
f
a
m
i
l
y
Wild Salmon And Quinoa
water for at least 15 minutes. Rinse and
strain quinoa. Bring chicken stock up
to boil, add quinoa; reduce to a sim-
mer. Cook for approximately 30 min-
utes. (Alternatively, you can add the
chicken stock and rinsed and strained
quinoa to a pressure cooker and cook
for approximately 6 to 8 minutes.)
4. While the quinoa is cooking or soak-
ing, fnely dice onion, celery, and toma-
to. In large saut pan, add 1 teaspoon
oil; saut onion and celery until they
are translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add tomato; stir and turn of heat.
5. Add cooked quinoa to vegetables in
saut pan. Strip thyme leaves of stem
with fngers and rough chop. Add
thyme to quinoa along with enough
grape seed oil to lightly coat quinoa
(approximately 2 teaspoons). Cook at
medium heat while stirring for 1 to 2
minutes and keep warm.
6. Heat cast iron skillet on medium
heat. Place small amount of grape
seed oil in skillet. Place salmon in
skillet skin-side down. Cook for ap-
proximately 4 minutes while bast-
ing fsh with marinade every 30
seconds. Turn heat up to medium-
high and turn fsh over; cook for
another minute. Adjust cooking
time based on thickness of salmon.
7. Serve salmon immediately with
approximately 3/4 cup of quinoa.
w
Yield: 2 servings
Salmon:
2 6 to 8 ounce wild salmon flets
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon grape seed oil
Fresh cracked black pepper
Sea salt
Marinade:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grape seed oil
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger or
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar
Quinoa Pilaf:
1 cup quinoa
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
1 medium onion, fnely diced
3 stalks celery, fnely diced
1 tomato, fnely diced
3 teaspoons grape seed oil (1 tea-
spoon for sauting, 2 teaspoons to
dress quinoa)
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
1. Season both sides of salmon with salt,
pepper and chopped fresh dill. Let
salmon come to room temperature.
2. Combine all ingredients for marinade;
mix thoroughly.
3. Soak quinoa in room temperature
FOR HEALTHY GUMS
Wild salmon Omega 3
reduces infammation
Basil Natural antibiotic,
reduces mouth bacteria
FOR WHITE TEETH
Pineapple and vitamin C-rich foods
Act as natural whiteners
To avoid cavities and plaque
Shiitake mushrooms Prevent oral
bacteria from creating dental plaque
For a complete list of
recommended foods for
oral health, and to download a
free copy of the recipe e-booklet,
visit www.aacd.com/smilerecipes.
TO PREVENT ENAMEL LOSS
Quinoa Calcium-rich, good for
bones and teeth
Onions Sulfur compounds may
kill streptococcus bacteria that can
cause tooth decay
Broccoli Iron may create a pro-
tective barrier, shielding teeth from
acidic foods and drinks
Around Town
Making An Impact
News about Awards, Events, Promotions and Business Meetings
Sabrina Winters, Attorney at Law,
PLLC (SWL) has been named a Top En-
trepreneur by Charlotte Business Leader
Magazine. Sabrina Winters has created
an innovative, high achieving law prac-
tice that contributes to her industry.
SWL has been assisting clients in
all areas of estate planning and probate
for over 12 years. After practicing in
New York for 4 years, she began grow-
ing the frm in 2005 in Charlotte, North
Carolina. Sabrina speaks to businesses,
civic associations and parishes in the
Charlotte area. In addition, she provides
educational programs to the commu-
nity throughout the year.
Sabrina is also a faculty member
at Central Piedmont Community College
in Charlotte, NC. She teaches the Estate
Planning course ofered as a requirement
of the Certifed Financial Planner Certif-
cation Program.
Sabrinas blog was selected by Lex-
isNexis as one of the Top 25 blogs in the
nation for Estate Planning and Elder Law
in 2011. Sabrina writes on a weekly basis
on the subjects of Estate Planning, Probate
and Special Needs Planning for adults and
children, the frm has gained exposure.
Calendar of Business and
Professional Meetings for Women:
Metropolitan Business
and Professional Women
3rd Wednesday of every month
Maggianos
South Park Mall
11:30 am members $25 guests $35
To register visit: www.mbpw.org
Charlotte Women With Know
How Elite Tuesday April 24tth 5:30
pm Meeting at Signature Wellness
3125 Springbank Lane Charlotte, NC
28226. Come and meet Dr. Deborah
Matthew and she will be speaking to
us on bioidentical hormone replace-
ment therapy. $10.00 includes dinner.
Send us your announcements that you
would like to make or if you are an organization
that focuses on business women send info to:
(Deadline is the 15th of every month
for upcoming issue)
Congrats!
Wendy Whitehurst of Custom
Marketing Solutions Inc,
has been named one
of The Mecklen-
burg Times 50
Most Infuential
Women 2012
Send us your announcements that you
would like to make or if you are an organization
that focuses on business women send info to:
(Deadline is the 15th of every month
for upcoming issue)
Making an Impact for a Cause
3500 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215
6:00pm until 11:00pm
September 15, 2012
Charlotte Museum of History
Black Tie Optional Awards Dinner
Celebrating Women in Business with
10 Awards given to 10 Women
Making an Impact Around Town
Sponsorships available
www.WomenwithKnowHow.com
Speaker:
Emcee Terri Bennett
Do your part
Making An Impact for A Cause
to Beneft Dress For Success
Charlotte and Orphanage for
children in India being built
by fashion designer Niki
Kapoor of Nika Formals
$100 per ticket
Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are important to you, or plan for
your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for your goals. Ill look at all aspects of your finances, then
find solutions that are right for your unique needs. And as your goals and needs change, Ill be there to adjust
your plan and help put your dreams within reach.
Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.
Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial
results. 2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rightsreserved.
Your nancial needs are unique.
Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized
with another perfect score on the Human Rights
Campaigns Corporate Equality Index.
Our Advisors. Your Dreams. MORE WITHIN REACH
Call me today at (704) 522.6565

Diane S. Davis, CFP, CLU
Financial Advisor
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner
5200 Park Rd
Ste 117
Charlotte, NC 28209
704-522-6565
diane.s.davis@ampf.com
www.ameripriseadvisors.com/diane.s.davis

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