I am laying low this morning - I slept in until almost 10am and then spent a couple hours writing a wedding ceremony script for two of my close friends who will be wed this July by ME!
I'm laying low because I've just had the most exciting 72 hours of my life and need to re-cooperate.
This past Tuesday, I sent out an email to the Central MN birth network to proclaim my decision to start a birth center in the St. Cloud area. I wrote a little about myself and my company. I rewrote my mission statement and goals as well as my intentions for the future. I included my request for volunteers as well as a business partner. Then, I sent out my energy into the virtual world with the click of a button. Well, as fate would have it, some women responded enthusiastically and some forwarded it on to other contacts they had. Meanwhile, in the actual world, I went to the Holistic Mom's Group Meeting on Tuesday night and networked with some live people. (You have to do both these days.) I expanded my contact list some more.
On Wednesday morning, I went to a holistic wellness center called The Natural Source with my cousin. My cousin was getting EDS done and I wanted to learn more. I got to talking with the receptionist and the EDS technician about my birth center and company mission, and they let me leave a sign up sheet for more contacts at their front desk.
When we got home, I had a voicemail from a woman named Paula. She was forwarded my email by a mutual contact and was very interested in talking to me. She said it was very interesting that I'd come forward at this time, as she had been pondering opening a birth center in St. Cloud for nearly a year. She founded one in Menomonie, WI in 2003 and another in St. Louis Park, MN in 2009 and was looking to open a third location! The St. Cloud area was her top priority. She thought we should collaborate and work together! I am really excited to meet her and tour her facilities soon!
On Thursday morning, I attended the local chapter of the La Leche League (for breastfeeding moms) and raised some more awareness about my project. I got a couple more names added to my email list, too. I had the goal to grow that list by 50 names every two weeks, and I'm well beyond my goal for June already! I will easily be able to double my expectations by the end of the month.
Early that Thursday afternoon, I got a call from the owner of The Natural Source saying it was very interesting that I had dropped off my information at the wellness center, because she'd been looking for "me" for a month now... She is an intuit and believes very strongly that I am supposed to become an affiliate of their center. She says they have no one who specializes in prenatal care, and that my coaching/massage/doula services would be a perfect fit under the umbrella of The Natural Source. Their mission is also about empowering women! I was pretty overwhelmed by all of this, but agreed to meet her that afternoon and tour the new facilities they were moving into.
I stopped in around 3:30 yesterday and got to check out the huge 22 room space they are moving into. The Natural Source will quickly become Central MN's go-to place for holistic/natural information. It's growing rapidly and the women collaborating to make this happen are incredible! I am not sure how to financially make this work yet, but I am arranging to join forces with them and move into a public office space.
I am reminded again of a quote by Margaret Mead from my doula dvd, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Perhaps my graduating class was right when they elected me most likely to change the world... I just don't have to do it alone! :)
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