Event of Interest: WPO Fall Regional Seminar Series 11/2/11 - LAST CHANCE!

Register now for the WPO Fall Regional Seminar series "Stirring it Up:  How to Grow Your Business, Make Money, and Save the World" featuring Gary Hirshberg, Chairman, President and CE-Yo of

(L) Samuel Kaymen and (R) Gary Hirshberg

Stonyfield Farm, sponsored by American Express OPEN.

Chicago, Illinois
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The Westin Michigan Avenue
909 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

What you will learn:

1. The strategy that Gary Hirshberg put into action that led to Stonyfield’s growth from its infancy as a seven-cow organic farming school to its current $370 million in annual sales.

2. How Stonyfield has parlayed its social media platforms and marketing initiatives into successful and authentic communication with consumers.

3. How Stonyfield has challenged the myth that social or environmental missions conflict with the company's financial objectives and instead created a "win-win-win-win-win-win-win" business model in which all stakeholders (employees, investors, customers, consumers, suppliers, farmers and shareholders and even the cows) all win.

FINAL CALL!  Click here to register.   Private affair:  For WPO members and prospective members only. 

Link to Samuel Kaymen and Gary Hirshberg Stonyfield story

Event of Interest: WPO Fall Regional Seminar Series 11/2/11

Register now for the WPO Fall Regional Seminar series "Stirring it Up:  How to Grow Your Business, Make Money, and Save the World" featuring Gary Hirshberg, Chairman, President and CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, sponsored by American Express OPEN.

Chicago, IL
November 2, 2011
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The Westin Michigan Avenue
909 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

What you will learn:

1. The strategy that Gary Hirshberg put into action that led to Stonyfield’s growth from its infancy as a seven-cow organic farming school to its current $370 million in annual sales.

2. How Stonyfield has parlayed its social media platforms and marketing initiatives into successful and authentic communication with consumers.

3. How Stonyfield has challenged the myth that social or environmental missions conflict with the company's financial objectives and instead created a "win-win-win-win-win-win-win" business model in which all stakeholders (employees, investors, customers, consumers, suppliers, farmers and shareholders and even the cows) all win.

Click here to register.   Private affair:  For WPO members and prospective members only.  Only a few seats left!

Article of Interest: Time As a Means to Happiness

New research takes a fresh look at the topic of happiness.  You can run a successful business and make a ton of money but what if happiness is not something you feel?

According to "If Money Doesn't Make You Happy, Consider Time," the authors discuss how happiness is indeed a consequence of the choices people make.

So what can people do to increase their happiness? Their answer is surprisingly simple: spend your time wisely. Careful though.

You will be surprised to learn how people spend their time.

Although happiness is clearly relevant for individuals, businesses should also pay attention. Building a workforce of highly qualified, hard-working, and loyal employees is an essential aspect of staying competitive in today's global markets. Therefore, being concerned about employee happiness is not just a moral thing to do, but it makes smart business sense as well.

Read the entire article along with discovering the five time-spending happiness principles here.

And the author's tip to finding the best road to happiness?   Spend time with the people you love doing the things you love.  

Download PDF file:

If Money Doesn't Make You Happy, Consider Time," Jennifer Aaker, Melanie Rudd, Cassie Mogilner, Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2011.

Posted by:  Women Presidents' Organization Chicago 

Article of Interest: How to Impress Your Bank

First rule of thumb:  Know how much you need to borrow - and why.  Here are some tips (and tools) on how to not just impress your bank but make the most out of the relationship.

Second rule of thumb:  Know your numbers.

Read the entire article:  How Can Entrepreneurs Impress Their Bank? | Chief Executive Magazine

Article of Interest: How to Do Business in China

Nanjing, China

At some point with a business, you look at how to achieve greater and faster growth without breaking the bank.  Expanding internationally is a wise choice.

Below, Inc. Magazine contributor David Freeman makes a solid case for doing business in China.  Although China is a complicated and a frustrating market to enter (definitely not for the timid business owner), it does offer unlimited upside growth potential for a business. After all, we are talking about selling to more than 1.3 billion consumers.

Read:  How to Break Into China

For additional help in going global or entering China, visit:  About.com Import and Export Guide site, The Global Small Business Blog and Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (full disclosure: Laurel Delaney manages these sites).

Posted by:  Women Presidents' Organization Chicago