I'm always astonished at the courage and indomitability of the human spirit. I first learned the true meaning of courage in 1986 when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I met fellow patients struggling with the disease in unimaginable ways, yet they remained positive and generous to others in our community.
I'm reminded of their strength now, during this pandemic, as I watch ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of selflessness and courage.
It's true that not all heroes wear capes.
I wasn't concerned when I learned I'd have to stay home to flatten the curve. Staying home isn't unusual for me. When you live with MS you can be homebound whenever the disease acts up.
But the pandemic is unfamiliar territory that feels surreal and abnormal. Although I work mostly from home my instincts tell me to reexamine my business goals in preparation for a new reality.
The world is hurting and I'm looking for ways to stretch my wings to advocate for a wider audience within the chronic illness community. I want to go beyond the work I already do as a writer, speaker, consultant, and patient leader.
How can I find a new idea?
I began working with the multitalented and deeply compassionate business mentor Sarah Walton. Sarah is teaching me the importance of growing my business by not only focusing on making money but to also think, feel, and act with my heart. These two parts make one powerful, compassionate whole.
I jumped full steam ahead by joining her heart-centered business boot camp and monthly membership group.
Now I ask myself:
How can I best serve others? What can I do to offer kindness, empathy, compassion, and inspiration? How can I teach what people need to know? How can I offer support and courage to heal a patient's heart to feel anxious and alone? Who needs me most?
"God provides the wind but man must raise the sails." ~St. Augustine
Through Sarah, I was fortunate to meet a group of savvy, intelligent women entrepreneurs. Their hearts lie in their businesses. That's evident by the passion and devotion they dedicate to their craft and to the world around them.
Sarah, and all the women in our group, have been a great gift to me during the pandemic. It's no coincidence that I found them at a time when I'd need them most. It's been such a joy and a blessing.
I'd like to introduce you to ten sensational women. I believe their businesses (many offered online) can benefit everyone in the disability and chronic illness community as well as people outside the community. Here are the businesses you'll find:
Hold onto your hats because here we go!
Sarah Walton is a business mentor who’s been featured on The Today Show, speaks at women's conferences all over the world, and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE. Originally from Salt Lake City, Sarah spent her 15-year corporate career in New York City, navigating the male-dominated world of tech, managing a P&L worth hundreds of millions of dollars, working closely with Marianne Williamson, mentoring dozens of women, and balancing motherhood at the same time.
She’s the creator of The Money Mindset Course, an interactive course designed to transform your relationship to money, her Heart-Centered Business Bootcamp, an online program for aspiring entrepreneurs and The Manifest Mastermind, a 9-month personal and professional development experience.
Sarah has become the go-to source of inspiration, no-nonsense teaching, and practical integration for women in business.
She’s created a successful business and now speaks across the nation, offering her courses and workshops, which are designed to put more money in the hands of more women.
Marla Sacks is a yoga and meditation instructor and Conscious Connections Course creator. She works with her body on a daily basis to bring her state of mind into spiritual balance. Marla brings gentle kindness and compassion to others with a calm presence.
Allergic histamine reactions, rashes, autoimmune disorders, and Lyme Disease are a few of the challenges that remind her how even in darkness, in the midst of chaos and commotion, it's your birthright to do what it takes to find your center and bliss. "I'm sensitive to your aches, pains, and discomfort be it from an emotional or physical situation."
The Action Bliss Charity method that Marla provides offers students, teachers, wellness practitioners, and therapists a peaceful toolbox to tap into, even in the calamities that arise on any given day. Meditations guide students to access their own intuitive mind. The PSYCH-K/MEDITATION/PRIVATE WELLNESS healing sessions I offer are customized for individual and group settings.
For more info, go to www.marlasacks.com
Rama Ginde: I offer virtual and in-person cooking classes. I am also the course creator of "The Ultimate Guide to Plant Powered Cooking In A Instant Pot." (Author's Note: A smash hit!)
You can find me cooking with children. experimenting with new recipes, dancing to Zumba, and taking long walks!
My website is www.wannabeechef.com
Take a look at my video for a taste of what I do!
Karen Foote is the owner of Rebalance Reiki and Massage LLC in downtown Westwood NJ. She is a Reiki Master Teacher and Intuitive Healer who loves to bring peace, balance, and insight to her clients and students. Whether you come for a class or a healing session, you’ll have her full attention and she'll do her best to send you off better than you came in. Helping to open up your awareness and deepen your spirituality is her goal!
Business: Clara Wang Photography
Website: www.
Social Media: www.instagram.com/
Area of Expertise: Product + Branding Photography. Creating brand images and visual content for product-based businesses. Product images that sell and position makers, designers, and their brands above the crowd.
Beautiful photograph by Clara Wang
Bio: Clara Wang is a product and branding photographer, and founder of Clara Wang Photography. Previously, Clara spent over 12 years as a specialist in the hotel and travel 
industry, managing consistent excellence, product quality, and people skills. She strongly believes it’s the little things that create a flawless experience. Today, she weaves her love of photography, branding, and product styling together to deliver the highest-quality photos for her clients to use in all of their marketing efforts. She uses her visual storytelling expertise to help women business owners create a powerful connection with their customers— branded images that beautifully set their products apart from the crowd and build trust with their audience. When not shooting in her studio, you’ll find Clara savoring delicious foods in restaurants or her own kitchen, watching rom coms on Netflix with a glass of wine in hand, or traveling on another global excursion with her husband and 2 boys.
Martha J. Fickinger
Style Venture, Inc
I’m a Partner at Peach, a lifestyle apparel company. Our mission is to help women thrive.
Our clothes transition easily for gym, work, and play. We use premium technical fabrics that are washable, stretchy, and travel friendly. We incorporate sustainable and upcycled fabrics in each collection. Our inclusive size range runs XXS-XXL.
Our virtual gatherings are a fun way for a group of friends to socialize while seeing the clothes. We ship everywhere in the USA, and we offer easy free returns.
https://www.discoverpeach.com/
Business name: Margaret ("Peggy") DeLong, Psy.D. - Licensed Psychologist
Website: https://drpeggydelong.com
Dr. DeLong is a licensed psychologist known as The Gratitude Psychologist. She helps people live their best lives by teaching methods of cultivating joy, resilience, gratitude, and meaning. She does this in several ways: 1) "Come Alive with Dr. Peggy" - Her affordable happiness and personal development monthly membership ($5 first month/ then $24/month), 2) individual support/counseling, 3) speaking, 4) books, 5) bracelets.
"I feel better already." - Most frequent sentiment after a new client's initial contact with Peggy.
Margaret ("Peggy") DeLong, Psy.D.The Gratitude Psychologist
908-672-6344; peggydelong@comcast.net
Laura Platt
My business name is Fox & Fairy
FoxandFairyStaging.com
Instagram @fox.and.fairy
I offer home staging, design, and organizing services. Most of my services can be offered virtually - they're all listed on my website. I also offer feng shui and energy clearing. I've put together a fun & informative Zoom presentation on Feng Shui for your home office. If you have a group that would enjoy the presentation, let me know! I'll be presenting for our BIG pod on May 13th - hope you can join in.
Sarah Coniglio is a social impact photographer whose mission is to travel the globe telling stories and finding non-profit organizations to partner with in providing photography and consulting services. With travel being predominantly halted during this uncertain time, Sarah has come up with an engaging way of staying connected with clients and followers as she shares parts of her past travels.
In Sarah’s words: During this pandemic, I've been doing a weekly Zoom call to highlight various places I've traveled to all over the world to give people an escape from being stuck indoors. This includes penguins of Argentina, monkeys around the world, a safari in Kenya, butterflies of the Americas, and more! Recordings are available on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/
Be sure to subscribe to Sarah’s newsletter - https://www.projectwonderfull.
Gabriela Vivas - (Don't miss her "try before you buy" offer at the bottom of the page!): Our store, Dparz Shoe Boutique is located in Ridgewood, New Jersey. What makes us unique is that each shoe is uniquely made in only nine pairs and with 100% authentic leather material. What adds an exotic edge to each shoe is that they are all made in Brazil specifically by the hands of two designers - Tanara and Raphaella Booz. In fact, Gabriela, owner of Dparz, travels to Brazil twice a year to meet with the designers and customize a shoe collection that caters to the wonderful women who shop at Dparz. This is why our motto, "Made for women, by women", holds true to its name. We stand for nothing less than to make women feel confident in whichever one of our shoes she chooses to conquer the world in.
The pandemic has impacted us tremendously. As a small business, we look forward to meeting our customers personally and have the privilege of helping select and shop their favorite styles. Our store offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, something not many shoe companies have.
Reflecting on our motto, “Made for women, by women,” we are using this time to inspire women to remain positive and strong, aiming to spread encouragement and optimism through our social media pages @Dparzshoes sharing activities such as cooking tutorials, gardening tips, and DYO facial masks. Not only do these small activities provide a source of entertainment, but they inspire our customers to bring their family together and promote a sense of unity and connection during this difficult time.
We have been supporting our Community “Oasis-A Haven for Women & Kids.” This charity has enabled us with the opportunity to donate 150 pairs of shoes to those in need. As well Ladies Savant Foundation Mother's Day project for Saint Joe's Hospital on the NICU floor. Dparz will be gifting a pair of shoes to ten mothers who have been affected by Covid-19, and twenty gift cards for each of the remaining mothers.
As well each day, we are promoting one strong woman. We are having our valued customers, friends, and family share short videos relaying positive messages, and telling us how they shine their light during this difficult time. We are hoping these simple messages can help one another remain in high spirits during this difficult time.
This Month of May, we are also launching another promotion that allows customers to buy a gift card of $100, and receive an additional $25 gift card on us. This is the perfect treat for Mother’s Day.
With our location being shut down due to Covid-19, our store has moved primarily to online shopping, denying our customers the experience of browsing our collections in person at our store. Despite the current circumstances, we have been working on developing better online engines to make shopping on our website an enjoyable experience for our customers. A new program we are excited to launch is entitled “Try before you Buy.” This program will allow our customers to try out up to four pairs of shoes with only a $15 deposit. Because we are unable to offer our customers the opportunity to try on our shoes in-store, we want to bring that experience into their homes in an easy and affordable way. We believe that our Try before you Buy program will offer the next best thing to our customers.
We recognize and understand this is a difficult time for everyone. At Dparz, we are striving to do all we can to make things a little easier for our customers. Dparz is not just a shoe boutique, it is more than that. Dparz is a lifestyle that promotes confidence for all women. This is what identifies us and separates us from competing brands. We value individuality and uniqueness, and it is our pleasure to cater to that for all of our wonderful customers.
https://dparz.com/blogs/blog/
Dparz Shoes
12 S Broad St Ridgewood, NJ 07450
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