Women and girls are uniquely and disproportionately affected by armed conflict.  In modern warfare, an estimated 90% of the casualties are civilians, and 75% of these are women and children. No Woman, No Peace

Wow, right? When I read this in an article today, I had to sit down and take a deep breath. It boogles my spirit and jumbles my heart.

Even though this UN resolution and the USA’s action plan to support the solution to this are great news, it is also mind numbing to imagine that the effect of war is so deadly to citizens in general, and to women and children in particular.

As we enter this new year with promise and resolve, let’s remember our sisters in arms. A friend of mind said it best today – Arms are for hugging.

For those of us in lands that are more peaceful, let’s give thanks for all the blessings we have. Let’s celebrate nations taking positive action. Let’s share with our neighbors the effects of war so we can no longer turn a blind eye to it. Let us remember that we are in this together.

If you are in a country torn by war, know that we are with you.

If this problem moves you to take action, take it now. Donate your time, your money, and your help in whatever way you can. Women have the power to eliminate poverty and war. If not now, when?

2012 is going to be a productive year here at SmartWomanGuides.com – we are going to host several Global Women’s Summits, produce several women entrepreneur products, and have much quality time together at training events. I am excited for all there is to come and I am inspired by every woman I meet.

We are going to expand our ability past our doorsteps and into the global commerce arena. We will be reaching out to our global sisters to better ourselves and our world.

As we do our work this year, we will come face to face with problems like the one in this article about women and war. It’s our responsibility to be both witness and relief. Start today by being thankful and aware.

Remember: No woman, no peace.

In love and gratitude,

Vicki @Smartwoman Flaugher

[graphic by DFID - UK Department for International Development]

On my trip, I made a commitment to myself that I would open my mind to whatever food that was put on my plate. Generally, I am not a fussy eater, but I can get squeamish about what some people consider food. I watch the Food Network and love it but, still, I am often amazed at the crazy things that get served at family tables worldwide.

To start the ball rolling, I’ve made a list of all the things I tried (and YES, enjoyed!) while I was visiting in China last week. These are food items that I had never eaten before. Most, I would eat again. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to add to this list of the adventurous things you’ve tried. It’s a soul stretching experience and you have the chance to play along!

• Soft shell turtle
• Salted goose head (w/beak attached)
• Abalone
• Sea urchin
• Chicken feet
• Duck palms (the webbing between their feet)
• Duck innards soup (heart, liver, gizzard, and intestines)
• Sea cucumber
• Bitter melon
• Pigeon (displayed full bodied, with head and feet included on the plate)
• Chicken tongue
• Eel (the little bones surprised me)
• Pig stomach lining
• Pig tail (yes, the curly little tail you see on piggies)
• Pig feet
• Fish terrine (remember those jello molds at picnics? Add fish)
• Fish roe
• Jelly fish (it’s grisly and glutenous)

I am sure I am missing a few, but this is a start. Now it’s your turn – share your growth experience about yourself that you learned through food. Risky and scary is good – eating it anyway is better! And, extra gold star if you were able to move past your fears and enjoyed it past your prejudice. Bon Appetit!

China is a magnificent place. I have just returned from a week long visit there on business and I am blown away! The beauty, history, hospitality, and generosity of the land and its people were enough to bring tears to my eyes. It was a life changing opportunity.

Since I see my life experiences as a mirror to greater lessons, I want to share with you some of the personal a-ha moments revealed to me on my trip. Maybe you can relate to some of them…

Courtesy is an old-fashioned value worth cultivating

In China, “face” is very important. In the US, we focus on saving face but not very often on giving face. During the dinners and talks, beautiful flourishes of description honoring the place and the people were a matter of course. The importance of fully appreciating others and their contributions was high in the hierarchy of conversation in Chinese culture.

Even beyond the flourishes was a sense of the importance of yielding. The most important person goes through the door first so it’s almost a contest to demonstrate courtesy and respect by allowing someone else in the door ahead of you. When you toasted and clinked wine glasses, to show respect and modesty, you clinked the glass edge below the other person’s glass edge. In an American world of vying for top dog position and clawing your way to the top, this yielding and show of respect was not only refreshing but incredibly satisfying to participate in. To most in America, the thought of placing yourself below another – of yielding – is a foreign and undesirable action. In reality, it was an honor to do.

Relationships are not just important, but are most important

In China, you don’t really talk about business at dinner, even when it’s a business dinner. Nobody really asks what you do – they want to get to know your character, your history, your thoughts. They don’t even want to entertain the idea of doing business with you until relationship is well established.

In the US, what we “do” is the primary focus. We often don’t even get to know each other before we give our elevator pitch. Think back to the last networking event you attended – isn’t what you charge for, what you do as your business, the thing that you led the conversation with? It’s what we’re taught. I have come to know first hand that it’s not the only way and even that it’s not the best way.

Beauty is the highest blessing

When I arrived in my first hotel room, fragrant fresh flowers and a artistically arranged fruit basket awaited me. At every dinner and even the business meetings, fresh flowers were on the tables. Flower shops were located within the business parks because they are considered a business expense item, a preferred addition to any gathering. Don’t even get me started on the amazing displays in the hotel lobbies – wow! As a hobby gardener, I certainly admired the landscaping and natural environment.

Although I understand from other experienced travelers that all of China isn’t all green and beautiful, the places I visited were almost singularly focused on maintaining a deep and abiding connection to Nature’s beauty. One of the reoccurring mentions of the competitive advantages of each business park we visited included its display of greenery, its access to lakes and scenic mountains, and the ease of communing with the outdoors. I take away from this experience that I need to increase the display of beauty in my own surroundings, and for the revelation, I am immensely grateful to my Chinese hosts.

Over the coming weeks, I will share other experiences, including a summary of each city I visited. As a final thought, I would say this – if you don’t have a passport, go get one. Traveling to another country will give you a perspective that staying home doesn’t give. Go to China and see for yourself. And, know too, that I am grateful you are here and am honored to count you among my friends. I could not be happy and successful without my friends and family, without you. Thank you.

Beyond Words: founded 14 years ago by Nitsan Gordon–Giles, a professional dance/movement therapy counselor, this is a group that brings together Israeli, Arab, and Palestinian women to heal through movement, touch, and listening. I met Nitsan at a FLOW event last week and she was a gentle, focused and joyful person. She told her story how, as a child, she had to live in bomb shelters, and how she was tormented in US school by the other kids because she was the only Jew. Here is an excerpt from the Beyond Words website about why it’s important to undermine prejudice:

Why is it important to transform prejudices in Israel?

Mainly because as evidenced from our own past and that of so many others around the world, prejudice can lead to incredibly destructive, horrific actions.

Also if the “need” for prejudiced behavior is not addressed, it can be passed on to the next generation. In the Middle East prejudice permeates large sections of the region’s populations and transforming it in Israel is our responsibility as a sovereign state, and is within our reach, and possibilities.

We believe changes begin at home and in the community. As women are educated about their rights and taught to work through their fears and support one another, they realize that their lives could be different. Gradually they become stronger and better able to stand up for their own rights and the rights of their children. As their self confidence and awareness increase they are able to create a more open, loving, respectful and accepting atmosphere in their homes. Consequently their children grow up treating others with more respect, empathy and compassion and realize the many choices they have to solve every problem that do not include aggression and violence.

Because the Middle East is such a “hot spot” involving more than three of the worlds’ religions and much of the world’s supply of oil, the lack of stability in the Middle East affects and endangers the rest of the world and in fact the survival of humanity on this planet. It is therefore crucial to create programs that undermine prejudices and encourage dialogue, justice and a shared society.

Here is the latest release of stories about amazing female entrepreneurs and the challenges (and rewards) they experience in building and running their business. Enjoy!

Fione Tan in the Top 10 National Women Entrepreneurs Award 2008
PressZoom (press release) – Amsterdam,Netherlands
Fione Tan, President and CEO of eOneNet, is among the top 10 women entrepreneurs in the inaugural National Women Entrepreneurs Award 2008, …
See all stories on this topic

Minister Guergis Congratulates Women Entrepreneurs
Canada NewsWire (press release) – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
9 /CNW Telbec/ – The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women) congratulates the recipients of the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur …
See all stories on this topic

2008′s big buzzword in giving: Micro
Marketplace – Los Angeles,CA,USA
Bernholz: So, a microconsignment program, such as that which is run by Living Goods in Uganda, helps individual women become entrepreneurs, self-sustaining …
See all stories on this topic

Women locked out of Sh700m loans
Standard – Nairobi,Kenya
By Benson Kathuri Women entrepreneurs cannot access more than Sh700 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) due to unfriendly lending procedures by …
See all stories on this topic

Number of Female Farmers on the Rise
WQOW TV News 18 – Eau Claire,USA
Some women inherit farms or are partners with spouses or others, but a growing number are entrepreneurs. Jane Eckert is chief executive of Eckert …
See all stories on this topic

Kashf awards for 10 women entrepreneurs
The News International – Karachi,Pakistan
By By Our Correspondent KASHF Foundation on Sunday presented ‘Kashf Micro Entrepreneurship Award 2008’ to ten women entrepreneurs from its portfolio at a …
See all stories on this topic

Finance trust eyes microfinace status next year
Daily Nation – Nairobi,Kenya
She said that by the end of this year, KWFT will have disbursed Sh9 billion in loans to female entrepreneurs countrywide. Ms Riria said the money will be …
See all stories on this topic

Guatemala’s Mayan Entrepreneur Women and Christian Children’s Fund …
The Guatemala Times – Guatemala,Guatemala,Guatemala
4, 2008 – The Actively Engaged Mayan Women, or Mujeres Emprendedoras Mayas in the rural area of Tecpan, Guatemala, have accepted a mission. …
See all stories on this topic

Nigeria: NGO Harps On Poverty Reduction Through Micro-Credit
AllAfrica.com – Washington,USA
According to her, “The entrepreneur has all it takes and can make a significant difference to Nigeria’s economic development. Microfinance brings the power …
See all stories on this topic

“India needs game changers In microfinance” Nancy Bar Nancy Barry …
By Lokesh(Abhay)
Enterprise Solutions to Poverty has engaged leading companies in India—including Tata, Reliance, ITC and Mahindra—as well as some emerging entrepreneurs— such as FabIndia, ICICI Foundation and SELCO. These companies are paving the way …
India Microfinance – http://www.indiamicrofinance.com/

As you can see from the stories, microfinancing is a big issue. Be thankful for the opportunities you have and try to help another. Kiva is my favorite microfinancing organization, but there are many ways to get involved. It’s a great way to change lives!

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

Here are some of the latest cool stories about women entrepreneurs all over the world. Enjoy!

Can the S&M Chicks pitch way to finals with sales-marketing savvy?
Edmonton Journal – Edmonton,Alberta,Canada
“Basically, the entire S&M Chicks show would be focusing on doing mini-makeovers for women entrepreneurs throughout Canada,” Duke explains. …
See all stories on this topic

Two Pinays win in Cartier entrepreneur awards
Philippine Star – Manila,Philippines
Five women entrepreneurs received the Second Annual Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards during a ceremony held at the Women’s Forum for the Economy and …
See all stories on this topic

Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals of Bangladesh
By Safeen
As women entrepreneurs, we see women are leading in the fashion world. Many of them owning their own fashion house, beauty salons, and also advertising firms. I was really surprised to learn few days back that the managing director of …
The Urban Women in Dhaka City – http://safeen.wordpress.com/

READ IN THIS STORY:
ITWeb – Gauteng,South Africa
This was one of the main questions raised at a recent series of workshops run in three South African cities for aspiring and current women entrepreneurs in …
See all stories on this topic

Talks on blogging, women entrepreneurs at UBD
Borneo Bulletin – borneo,Brunei Darussalam
Wowing the Women: Being Young, Female and Enterprising”, in conjunction with the Global Entrepreneurship Week, which ran from November 17-23. …
See all stories on this topic

Call to improve education of rural women entrepreneurs
IPPmedia – Dar es Salaam,United Republic of Tanzania
By Gadiosa Lamtey The government has been urged to refocus support on programmes geared to improving education service delivery to low-income women instead …
See all stories on this topic

Women empowerment
The Daily Star – Dhaka,Bangladesh
The three successful women entrepreneurs have set an exmaple for other micro-credit borrowers in the country. They had invested the money in some innovative …
See all stories on this topic

The  wheels of commerce are turning all over the world and every day new groups of women become entrepreneurs. We welcome all of our worldwide sisters!

Together,  we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher,  the original SmartWoman

I have had the pleasure recently to join a mastermind group and intend to join another.

The articles are short and designed to give you a taste. It won’t take much time for you to plant the seed in your mind and let it grow. When you allow others in to help, the creativity and power grows exponentially. I regret that I have waited so long to do it, and encourage you to take action. I mean it when I  say – Together, we are stronger!

Passion For Business: What Is a Master Mind Group and How to Create?:

MasterMind Group Planning Guide ebook

Some Thoughts and Different Approches to Running a Mastermind Group

Evan Carmichael’s Mastermind Resources Blogsite

Tips by Wendy Maynard at Kinetic Ideas

Meet and Grow Rich: How to Easily Create and Operate Your Own “Mastermind” Group for Health, Wealth, and More Book by Joe Vitale and Bill Hibbler

Barriers still exist in accessing credit – Research
Ghana News – Accra,Ghana
Dr Egyir said it was the core objective of the study to document the current situation of barriers to access of micro finance to rural women entrepreneurs …
See all stories on this topic

Locals in new book
Terrace Standard – BC, Canada
FOUR LOCAL women were recognized for their success in business as part of a book celebrating women entrepreneurs around the province. …
See all stories on this topic

IFC supports African women entrepreneurs
Afrique en ligne – Angers,France
This includes the creation of several debt and equity funds for women-owned businesses, evidence that investors are eager to tap into this emerging market. …
See all stories on this topic

Starting a Company: From Idea to Reality
PRLog.Org (press release) – Bucuresti,Romania
The National Association of Women Business Owners, Central Jersey Chapter (NAWBOCJ) is a network of women entrepreneurs who provide each other with …
See all stories on this topic

Nigeria: Oceanic MD, Others Bag Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award
AllAfrica.com – Washington,USA
… Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mrs. Mercy T. Iyortyer, were at the weekend presented with the award of the women entrepreneur of the year. …
See all stories on this topic

Tamkeen empowerment strategy opens doors for US and Arab women …
Zawya (press release) – United Arab Emirates
For women entrepreneurs too, Tamkeen has opened new doors by making instruments of finance available through its loans initiatives with Shamil Bank …
See all stories on this topic

Latina entrepreneur raises the roof of success
Fort Worth Business Press – Fort Worth,TX,USA
“There are not a lot of Latina entrepreneurs out there. That’s one of the reasons I have to step out and show women in general that you can do it,” she said …
See all stories on this topic

More women needed for capital market- DG/SEC
Ceylon Daily News – Ceylon,Sri Lanka
“We will be targeting women entrepreneurs and expect to attract women in the grass root level for the capital market,” he said. “SEC is planning to attract …
See all stories on this topic

Female-Powered Green Revolution
By Karla Maquiling
EchoStore, the first sustainable lifestyle store in the Philippines, is the brainchild of marketing expert Chit Juan, writer-artist and wellness advocate Jeannie Javelosa, and coffee entrepreneur Reena Francisco. …
PinoyCentric.com – http://pinoycentric.com/

Chilean Entrepreneur is the European Winner of the 2nd Annual …
By sashok(sashok)
Start-up specializing in the commercialization of eco-friendly salmon skin leather is awarded one of the most prestigious awards for women entrepreneurs by Cartier and the Women’s Forum. London, UK (PRWEB) October 26, 2008 — Laura …
Internet Business – http://internetbusinesshub.blogspot.com/

Canadian Women in Business Shattering Glass Ceiling
By Audie
CIBC World Markets’ five-year projection of the creation of 260000 new businesses across Canada is breathing new life in the hearts of our nation’s entrepreneurs. And Canadian women are poised to be major players in this trend with the …
The Marrek Group – http://blog.marrek.com/

Explore the world and reach out to the other female entrepreneurs worldwide – it’s a glorious thing!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me on Twitter: SmartWoman

by Vicki Flaugher, CEO of SmartWoman Guides in celebration of Blog Action Day to discuss poverty and it’s solutions.

Microfinancing, according to Wikipedia, refers to the provision of financial services to poor or low-income clients, including consumers and the self-employed. The term also refers to the practice of sustainably delivering those services.

More broadly, it refers to a movement that envisions “a world in which as many poor and near-poor households as possible have permanent access to an appropriate range of high quality financial services, including not just credit but also savings, insurance, and fund transfers.”

Many female entrepreneurs worldwide have taken loans, which are relatively small amounts in US dollars, and turned them into businesses that feed dozens of people, sometimes their whole village. I love this idea because it creates a cultural, psychological, and financial infrastructure that encourages the democratization of social power. Anyone who applies, provided they meet the often relaxed criteria, can get money to help them build a business.

How can microfinancing bring world peace? Some would argue that full-fledged wars, or even just one well-placed bullet, is the answer to eliminating dictators and oppressive governments, but I don’t. For one, I am a pacifist, and two, assassination of a leader does not create the infrastructure for democratized power that needs to be in place for a general population to rise up.

Much like the elephants in a circus who are trained from birth that they can’t escape because they are held by a heavy chain and then eventually not needing the chain at all to stay put, all of us learn to adapt. It’s called “learned helplessness”. It’s negative effects, in terms of poverty and oppression, where a people stay suppressed because it’s how to survive, can be reversed. We can learn that there are alternative solutions and act upon them, given sufficient hope and support and belief in the possibility of success.

Microfinancing allows the environment to support social change. This change leads to economic freedom and independence of both spirit and financial sustenance. When a people decide for themselves they’ve had enough and they deserve better, oppressive governments don’t stand a chance. They crumble. And what’s left once they crumble are citizens who are able to stand up on their own, who choose their own destiny, who face the future making their own choices.

When people are not hungry, war is less common.When citizens have the means to create businesses and provide for their family the food they need to prevent hunger, the urge for war diminishes. Using the premise that it’s better to teach someone to fish rather than give them a fish, microfinancing allows individuals to be empowered and capable to achieve their dreams. It grows the required personal and cultural infrastructure that needs to be in place for the democratization of social power to occur.

As entrepreneurs ourselves, I believe it is our priviledge and duty to reach out to our fellow entrepreneurs worldwide. Let’s build a peaceful, loving world together. Today, you could give $25 and enable a woman in Africa to start a business. I encourage you all to visit some of the links below and do what you can. It all matters and it all helps.

• Kiva.org
• Opportunity.org
• ACCION.org
• PlanetFinanceGroup.org
• ARCRelief.org
• VillageBanking.org
• CalvertFoundation.org
• OptInNow.org
• GlobalPartnerships.org
• MicroPlace.com

Thank you for all you do and have a great day!

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me on Twitter: SmartWoman