March Edition of The Mastermind for Masterminds

Now is the Time to Elevate Your Passion for Life and Work to Overcome the Fears that are Holding You Back!

♦ Do You Feel Stuck and Need Inspiration for Your Career or Business?
♦ Are You In Search of a Strong Peer Network of Trusted Colleagues?
♦ Do You Want to Increase Your Confidence and Boost Your Positivity?

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution:

THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS

The Mastermind for Masterminds is a private meeting among dedicated business professionals looking to exchange honest feedback, help refine new ideas and concepts, and share insights and potential leads. We’re not creating just another business network, we’re building a community of professionals dedicated to helping one another overcome obstacles and achieve greater success.

Event Details:

WHEN: Wednesday, March 29, 8:30-11:00 am

WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

COST: $197.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

NEW CONNECTIONS with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
LASTING RELATIONSHIPS with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
NEW IDEAS for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be

Join Us Today!

Career Communication Entrepreneurs Networking

3 Ways You Can Love Networking

Some people just don’t like networking. Whether they’re executives, professionals, or simply students, not everyone is comfortable with the process. Many of these people – even the ones with a natural affinity for it, like extroverts – claim that it makes them feel inauthentic and dirty. They see it as brown-nosing, exploitative, and generally unpleasant.

In today’s world, however, networking is nothing less than a necessity. Countless studies have shown how professional networks increase opportunities for individuals and businesses alike. Networks fuel more expansive knowledge, faster advancement, greater authority, and a better capacity for innovation.

Networking can also be more satisfying on a personal level. Individuals are able to build and nurture their relationships more easily. This, in turn, increases satisfaction in the workplace and can result in better productivity and higher quality output.

Overcoming the Aversion

With all these great benefits it’s only natural to want to explore the possibilities of networking. Even if you can’t stand the idea, there are some strategies that can help you overcome those feelings and branch out further than before. Take these steps into consideration and you can learn to love networking.

1. Change Your Mindset

There are two mindsets associated with networking. “Promotional” mindsets center around the growth, accomplishments, and advancement which comes along with networking. “Preventional” mindsets, on the other hand, see it as a necessary evil and only do it because they feel obligated.

Experiments have shown that prevention-focused people network less often and felt inauthentic during the process. As a result, many of them underperformed in crucial aspects of their job. Meanwhile, promotional mindsets lead to greater fulfillment and curiosity as well as an open mind.

You can’t simply force yourself to become extroverted if you’re introverted, but you can change what you focus on. Shifting your mindset to the potential positive outcomes can inspire you to look at it a different way.

2. Find Common Interests

Remember that everyone you’re networking with likely has very similar goals. Instead of feeling like you’re being dishonest or inauthentic think about the common ground you have.

Networking can help both of you advance your careers.

3. Consider What You Can Give

The main reason people feel disgusted when networking is because they feel like they’re taking advantage of the other person. Consider instead what you have to offer that can help them. Whether it’s tangible support like social connections and technical assistance or personal things like recognition and encouragement, everyone has something to give.

Additional resources:
https://www.quietrev.com/learn-to-love-networking/
https://www.iconstaffingnetwork.com/ways-to-learn-to-love-networking/

Career Coaching Leadership Mastermind Networking

February Edition of The Mastermind for Masterminds

Now is the Time to Elevate Your Passion for Life and Work to Overcome the Fears that are Holding You Back!

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution:

THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS

Event Details:

WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 8:30-11:00 am

WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

COST: $197.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Sales Consultants
Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

New connections with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
Relationships with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
New ideas for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be

Join Us Today!

Career Culinary Connections Networking News

A New Year, A New Culinary Connections

We are Kicking Off the Year in Style at Our First Culinary Connections of 2017 at The Grand Café!

Join us January 26th at The Grand Café in Morristown for the first Culinary Connections of 2017. Culinary Connections is an exclusive networking event for professionals from all walks of business who are passionate about making the right connections over great wine and food.

The Grand Café in Morristown

grand-cafe-shots

Kudos to Alice and Desmond Lloyd, who have over the last 35 years, created and sustained one of the last bastions of civility in the restaurant business.

Come join our sponsors, Christal McElroy of EisnerAmper, Karolina Dehnhard of Budd Larner, Vince Egan of Benjamin Edwards and me at The Grand Café in Morristown. We will feast on fabulous fare at the “doyenne of Morris County,” a sophisticated French favorite in Morristown where everything is first class, from the fantastic steady classics, to the gorgeous decor, to a staff that attends to your every need. It’s just a grand place!

We will be making our connections in the upstairs library with a roaring fireplace, lots of great food and fabulous conversation. Bring your appetite and lots of business cards!

EVENT DETAILS:

Small Plates Dining, Hors d’oeuvres & Networking at The Grand Café

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2017 • 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: The Grand Café, 42 Washington Street, Morristown, NJ, 973.540.9444. www.thegrandcafe.com
COST: $99.00 per ticket

Due to the nature of this very special event, attendance will be capped at 40 attendees.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

With Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

course-connections-sponsors-9-27-16

Here’s What People Are Saying:

“Thank you for having me last Wednesday! I really enjoyed the culinary portion of the event as well as the networking.”
– Richard Sodeke, Media Sales Associate at Felix

“What a lovely evening last night. I loved that we were standing in the kitchen watching the handsome chef with his adorable French accent, cooking delicious food that we could eat immediately. How often does one get that opportunity to see behind the scenes, other than on television where it sometimes seems scripted? The event was beautiful, the location was stunning, and the camaraderie in the room – priceless!”
– Eileen Berman, eileenbergman.com

“Great event last night, truly. Thank you! When I hit the road and sat in the driving rain and traffic coming from Newark, I thought about how nice it would be to go home! Boy am I glad that I made the commitment to you (and to me) to come because I would have missed a wonderful time meeting great folks.”
– Lori Chapin, Attorney, Sedgwick, LLP

“Thank you for a great event! I adored your friends and clients.”
– Denise Gaffney, Area Development Manager, Etcetera; Regional VP, National Association of Professional Women

“The Restaurant Serenade installment of Culinary Connections was excellent – great food and wine as well as great new faces to share it with. I look forward to the next Culinary Connections event in April and joining the Course Connections group in the spring.”
– Marty Eide, Attorney, Markel Corporation

Career Mastermind Networking News

Start the New Year With a New You!

The New Year is the Perfect Time to Take Your Professional and Personal Life to New Heights!

♦ Do You Feel Stuck and Need Inspiration for Your Career or Business?
♦ Are You In Search of a Strong Peer Network of Trusted Colleagues?
♦ Do You Want to Increase Your Confidence and Boost Your Positivity?

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution:

THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS

The Mastermind for Masterminds is a private meeting among dedicated business professionals looking to exchange honest feedback, help refine new ideas and concepts, and share insights and potential leads. We’re not creating just another business network, we’re building a community of professionals dedicated to helping one another overcome obstacles and achieve greater success.

Event Details:

WHEN: Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 8:30-11:00 am

WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

COST: $97.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Sales Consultants
Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

New connections with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
Relationships with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
New ideas for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be
Elevating your passion for life and work to overcome the fears that are holding you back

Join Us Today!

Culinary Connections Entrepreneurs Networking

A Festive Night with Culinary Connections

culinary-connections-thank-you

A Great Way to Usher in the Holidays!!

First let me thank our Culinary Connections sponsors – Christal McElroy, EisnerAmper; Karolina Dehnhard, Budd Larner; and Vince Egan, Benjamin Edwards. Our sponsors understand the power of making the right connections over great food, wine and conversation!

And many thanks to our wonderful team at The Highlawn Pavilion – Chef Pascal, Kurt Knowles and Christopher Gellings. I hope you all had a chance to meet Chef….he is very entertaining and a true gourmet! Think of having your next meeting in The Wine Cellar, or better yet, taking your sweetheart to lunch or dinner over the holidaze!

A special thanks goes to our photographer, Mahvash Saba of MahvashSabaPhoto.com. Mahvash is a Kodak International Award winner and does all of our events and headshots. She can do yours too! Her clients include organizations such as Leading Women Entrepreneurs and B.I.G, and her ability to capture the essence of a person or an event is remarkable. Hope you will have her photograph your next headshot, family portrait or event!

An Impressive Group of Connectors!

My heartfelt thanks to all of YOU for joining last Thursday’s Holiday Kick-off Culinary Connections! I am always so impressed by the diversity and high quality of the connectors that join us for Culinary Connections. I have heard from many of you that a lot of great connections were made! Please let me know of any great connection (business or personal) that you made and I will share!

View Our Gallery of Connectors at December’s Culinary Connections at The Highlawn Pavilion

Save the Date

Our next Culinary Connections event will be held at the very elegant Grand Café in Morristown, date TBA shortly. Desmond Lloyd and I go way back, and I am excited that he will be sharing his beautiful setting and fabulous food with us. Please have a look at the website here: www.thegrandcafe.com.

We are always looking for sponsors for upcoming events. Please let me know if you are interested in sponsoring one of our upcoming Culinary Connections events! A great way to get your name out there. Please email or call me for more info!

Thank You!

Thank you again everyone. You are an awesome group and I am thrilled that you came. And please don’t forget to send me details on any great connections you have made!

Susan Ascher

HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT CULINARY CONNECTIONS:

“Thanks for another great evening. I have been to all five of your Culinary Connections and what I love is how each one has its own personality based upon the venue and the folks who attend. At each event, I have made new connections that I know will be lasting ones; yet, at the same time, I reconnect with people that I am so grateful to see again. Last night’s intimate setting allowed me to connect with most of the room and still have meaningful conversations with those that I was looking forward to seeing again.”

CULINARY CONNECTIONS SPONSORS:

course-connections-sponsors-9-27-16

Career Entrepreneurs Mastermind Networking News

Are You Ready for The Mastermind for Masterminds?

Do You Feel Stuck and Need Inspiration for Your Career or Business?

Are You In Search of a Strong Peer Network of Trusted Colleagues?

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution – THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS – a private meeting among dedicated business professionals looking to exchange honest feedback, help refine new ideas and concepts, and share insights and potential leads.

Event Details:

WHEN: Monday, December 12, 2016, 8:30-11:30 am

WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

COST: $97.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Sales Consultants
Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

New connections with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
Relationships with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
New ideas for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be
Elevating your passion for life and work to overcome the fears that are holding you back

The Mastermind for Masterminds isn’t creating just another business network, we’re building a community of professionals dedicated to helping one another overcome obstacles and achieve greater success.

Join Us Today!

Culinary Connections Networking News

December Installment of Culinary Connections

culinaryconnections-holiday

You are Cordially Invited to Attend the December Installment of Culinary Connections!

Join us December 1st as Culinary Connections celebrates the holidays. Culinary Connections is an exclusive networking event for professionals from all walks of business who are passionate about making the right connections over great wine and food. Take your networking skills to the next level and join us for a night full of connections, opportunities and fun.

No special skills required: just a love of great people, great wine and great food in a beautiful four star setting.

The Wine Cellar at The Highlawn Pavilion

highlawn

Join Chef Pascal as he creates some fabulous holiday fare. Then leave with the recipes so you can duplicate the same great dishes for your holiday entertaining!

The Wine Cellar, located on the lower level of Highlawn, is the perfect choice for those seeking a truly unique dining experience in the most private of settings. Built directly on top of “Eagle Rock” (the rock is the eastern wall of the room), there is nothing quite like it.

There is no finer place to celebrate the holidays. Highlawn Pavilion’s acclaimed cuisine, diverse wine program, sophisticated service, and incomparable ambiance set the stage for an unmistakably unique culinary adventure.

EVENT DETAILS:

Small Plates Dining, Hors d’oeuvres & Networking at The Wine Cellar at Highlawn Pavilion

WHEN: Thursday, December 1, 2016• 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: The Wine Cellar, Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, NJ 07052, www.highlawn.com.
DIRECTIONS: If using Google Maps Navigation, please use this address: 1 Crest Drive, West Orange, NJ 07052. If using traditional GPS, please use this address: 381 Eagle Rock Ave.,West Orange, NJ 07052.
COST: $99.00 per ticket

Due to the nature of this very special event, attendance will be capped at 40 attendees.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

With Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

course-connections-sponsors-9-27-16

Here’s What People Are Saying:

“Thank you for having me last Wednesday! I really enjoyed the culinary portion of the event as well as the networking.”
– Richard Sodeke, Media Sales Associate at Felix

“Thank you for a great event! I adored your friends and clients.”
– Denise Gaffney, Area Development Manager, Etcetera; Regional VP, National Association of Professional Women

Culinary Connections Networking News

A Delicious Start to Culinary Connections

cc-thank-you

The Power of Great Connections

First let me thank our Culinary Connections sponsors: Christal McElroy of EisnerAmper who was represented by Bret Boivin, (a GREAT new addition to our community); Karolina Dehnhard, Budd Larner; and Vince Egan, Benjamin Edwards. Our sponsors understand the power of making the right connections over great food, wine and conversation!

And many thanks to our wonderful team at The Park Avenue Club: Nicole Marucci, our event manager; Chef Arnold Kruck, who needs no introduction; and Greg Smith, PAC’s Executive Director. A perfect experience is their mission, and they never disappoint. Please feel free to contact me if you are thinking of having your next event here, and I will gladly make the introduction!

A special thanks goes to our photographer, Mahvash Saba of MahvashSabaPhoto.com. Mahvash is a Kodak International Award winner and does all of our events and headshots. She can do yours too! Her clients include organizations such as Leading Women Entrepreneurs and B.I.G, and her ability to capture the essence of a person or an event is remarkable. Hope you will have her photograph your next headshot, family portrait or event!

Great Friends & New Connectors!

And thanks to all of YOU who joined last Wednesday’s Culinary Connections! I have heard from many of our connectors that a lot of great connections were made! And we had some new connectors join us: Bret Boivin of EisnerAmper, Martha Samuel of Carlisle Collection, Maribeth Eckert of Amari Event Planning, Virginia Liberato of Restoration Hardware and Tricia Ott, CAP. Happy also to see Andrea Noyes of The Noyes Insurance Agency, Marj Manning of Morgan Stanley, Lori Chapin of Sedgwick LLP, Tami Pichardo of Elite Rhythms Entertainment, and Rich Robitaille, Berkeley College, all Connections returnees! What an amazing group of professionals and world-class networkers!

group-photo-10-26-16-culinary-connections — Connectors at October’s Culinary Connections at The Park Avenue Club

Save the Date

Don’t forget to Save the Date for our next Culinary Connections event scheduled for Thursday, December 1st at The Wine Cellar at Highlawn Pavilion, where we will celebrate the holidays! This will be a sold out event, as I already have 10 spots filled. We will cap at 40 so please be sure to respond early to avoid disappointment.

We are always looking for sponsors for upcoming events. Please let me know if you are interested in sponsoring one or all of our upcoming Culinary Connections events!
A great way to get your name out there. Please contact me or call for more info!

Thank you again everyone. You are an awesome group and I am thrilled that you came. And please don’t forget to send me details on any great connections you have made!

Susan Ascher

HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT CULINARY CONNECTIONS:

CULINARY CONNECTIONS SPONSORS:

course-connections-sponsors-9-27-16

Entrepreneurs Mastermind Networking News

Next Installment of The Mastermind for Masterminds

— INTRODUCTORY SESSION —

Do You Feel Stuck and Need Inspiration for Your Career or Business?

Are You In Search of a Strong Peer Network of Trusted Colleagues?

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution – THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS – a private meeting among dedicated business professionals looking to exchange honest feedback, help refine new ideas and concepts, and share insights and potential leads.

Event Details:

WHEN: Monday, November 14, 2016, 8:30-11:30 am

WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

COST: ** Introductory Price ** $59.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Sales Consultants
Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

New connections with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
Relationships with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
New ideas for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be
Elevating your passion for life and work to overcome the fears that are holding you back

The Mastermind for Masterminds isn’t creating just another business network, we’re building a community of professionals dedicated to helping one another overcome obstacles and achieve greater success.