2. Co-Invigorate Your Vision!
Two cents from the Chief Visionary

You’ve been in business for some time... You are doing well, clients are showing up, ideas are flowing. You even get eight hours of sleep a few times a week (I am not talking collectively!) One day you wake up (likely after four hours of sleep) and realize that your marketing materials, products and unique selling proposition are no longer so unique and exciting. You feel yourself slipping out of the honeymoon phase of your business - something is clearly missing! Your dream has lost some of its luster, a sure sign you’ve been spending too much time together, alone. Just as it takes two to tango, it takes two (or more) to co-invigorate a vision!

Almost every publication I’ve encountered lists “independent self starter” and “comfortable collaborating and asking for help” among qualities of successful entrepreneurs. How do these seemingly opposing traits live together? Since we are so comfortable envisioning and innovating independently, we often forget that sometimes we need others to succeed. We fall in love with our idea, get attached, loose objectivity, refuse to let go – we get caught in the “tunnel vision”. However, our ability to welcome and integrate fresh perspectives and viewpoints is what keeps us ahead of the game!

I know from experience that my most creative, innovative, and (I say this modestly) brilliant ideas arrive in the process of brainstorming, collaborating and outright delegating to my peers. And even if I wanted to believe that I’ve done it all alone, evidence point to the contrary. Neither the success of my coaching business of Essence nor of YES!Circle would have been possible without constant inflow of co-invigoration by other bright, creative and supportive entrepreneurs!

I want to take another opportunity (just because I can) to acknowledge and thank the amazing people that have co-invigorated (and in some cases invigorated from scratch) YES!Circle in our first year:

• Web-Magic Gurus – Catapult Consultants for magnifying our presence from down-the-street support group to the world-class organization!
• Sponsors-extraordinaire Cynthia Ward and Gil Yancey at Lee Hecht Harrison for taking over David Greenwood’s hospitality in providing us wonderful space (and Earl Rasmussen and Jane Shore for connecting us with LLH and David.) And to the Training Institute of Washington DC for sponsoring the fabulous Networking Seminar on April 23rd!
• Magical Identify Creator Rodrigue Lawson for capturing the YES!Circle spirit in our logo.
• Creative Marketing Geniuses Rebecca Carpenter and Joe Coleman for truly invigorating new life and energy into our ideas, materials and value proposition! Wood Street for exceptional customer service and beautiful marketing cards.
• Super-Survey Designer John Burnham (and co-conspirator Tom Rogers) for getting to the bottom of how we can best help entrepreneurs.
• Shrewd Business Consultant Bob Steere for guidance, direction and coaching.
• Talented Writers Gina Montefusco and Anne McDonough for helping with the early Newsletters.
• Speakers, members, volunteers, collaborators and guests (whom I am not mentioning by name but appreciate every day!) for infusing substance, soul and sparkle into YES!Circle.

If you’ve attended YES!Circle events over the past year, and especially if you are a member, you have experienced first-hand the incredible power of co-invigoration. So whether you’re in the honeymoon phase of your business or looking for renewed inspiration, please visit YES!Circle. Success is simply inevitable when brilliant ideas, idealist visionaries and ideal environment come together. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Margarita Rozenfeld
Chief Visionary
YES!Circle
703-989-8016
margarita@yescircle.org

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5. Community Spirit Challenge
YES!Circle ISO New Home

As entrepreneurs, we pride ourselves on our ingenuity, resourcefulness and creativity, not to mention great networking skills! So here is this month's opportunity to use your talents and contacts for a greater good. Read more

As the YES!Circle continues to flourish, we are actively looking for a new home, starting May 2003. Since all of us have access to tremendous resources, once we start digging, this challenge should be a cinch once we begin brainstorming together!

We are all about win-win, so what do you get for finding a new home for the YES!Circle (in addition to the satisfaction of solving the Great Community Spirit Challenge and our undying gratitude?) As our thanks for your efforts and good will, the winner of the Community Spirit Challenge will:

• Win a FREE YES!Circle membership or a certificate for $100 YES!Circle dollars, per your preference.
• Be Spotlighted in a subsequent Newsletter Receive an honorable mention at the next YES!Circle event
• All viable leads will be entered in a raffle for a FREE YES!Circle membership or a certificate for $100 YES!Circle dollars, per your preference.

* The following are important factors to consider:

• Location: preferably in the city or centrally located, metro accessible.
• Environment: private, quiet, learning and connection conducive (restaurants, bars and libraries are not appropriate for most YES!Circle events)
• Size: to comfortably accommodate 20-35 participants (or more for special events)
• Cost: we are interested in win-win relationships with our facility provider. Therefore, an ideal “host” is someone who will benefit from allying with the YES!Circle. Potential lead ideas: local universities with entrepreneurship programs; professional firms, such as law or accounting; relevant NGOs and trade associations; fill in the blanks.

Many thanks to David Greenwood at Morgan Stanley for hosting YES!Circle through March! Due to new security restrictions in the building, we are looking for a new home. Huge thanks to Gil Yancey and Cynthia Ward for welcoming us to Lee Hecht Harrison on April 7th and our wonderful member Jane Shore for connecting us with LHH!

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