Success Stories
I met Linda McCabe at a networking event in 2004. She invited me to visit a meeting. As soon as I arrived I immediately felt comfortable and welcome. I felt the energy, passion, and enthusiasm from Linda and the members and knew it was an organization I wanted to be part of. My very first goal was to find a better career fit. I met my next manager at that first meeting and started a position within six months. Through Optimal Level I was able to set goals and learn valuable time management skills to support me through a year's worth of training for my next position. I spent several more years focusing on growth in my career. During this time, as a side project I began to focus on my creative side. Through this development was able to recognize my passion and talent for fashion design. I'm now on the road to launching my own brand/company. With the knowledge and support of Optimal Level I've been able to meet the challenges that come along with growth. My path has been greatly affected by joining the organization. I'm so thankful for this gift of new friendships, a reliable network of wonderful women, and self awareness.
Mandy Mackowiak, Be Blissful Bags
Mandy.mackowiak@gmail.com
I have gained so much awareness in my time at Optimal Level! Linda has been instrumental in helping me: Understand and control my schedule to complete the important tasks; Learn to appreciate where I have come from and what progress I have made toward the goal; Defining and creating structure around business processes to strengthen the organization; Helping to determine key issues and creating action plans to address the issues. Thank you Linda!!!
Angie Noll, Norita Co.
angienoll@noritaco.com
I see Optimal Level as not just a place to go to build your business, but also a place to go to create a strong and solid business based on what me as the owner should be doing. For me working with you has shown me something I was not aware of and that is that I am a business person who receives opportunities, sees them and gives thanks for the gift they offer. In doing that, what I realized from your input is that I need to manage my time better by choosing the projects that move my heart and fill my vision as a person and a business woman in my community and world. I am grateful for this because it is maturing my vision to select the projects that really make a difference in my life and business to a point that I am feeling blessed everyday for what I do.
I thank Optimal Level for respecting my success and looking deeper as to how to support me to be a mature business person with a world vision implementing it professionally.
Maggie Wilkins
C&M Wilkins, Inc.
Artistry in Kitchen Design and Renovation Since 1985
building@cmwilkins.com
January 2008 has been the BEST January for my business since its inception! Optimal Level’s monthly meetings provide a level of accountability that can be missing in small businesses. After only six months with Linda and the members of Optimal Level, I’ve developed the confidence to clarify my goals and create action plans that attract new clients and increase work from current clients – all which helped to grow my business. Most importantly, Optimal Level meetings encourage me to go beyond focusing on only daily business activities to thinking about my company from a grander perspective.
Thank you, Linda and my Optimal Level colleagues!
Dawne Simmons
WordStorm Communications, Inc.
dawne@wordstormcom.com
I began working with Scott several months ago. His knowledge and understanding about the basics of operating a small business have opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. In addition to helping me really dig into my business activities and look at how I allocate time, Scott has motivated me to want to understand the financial details in a way that I have not done in the past. That is a crucial part of my daily business operation that was seriously lacking.
Scott is energetic, motivating, uplifting, non-judgmental and spontaneous. Our learning sessions pass so quickly because there is always so much information to share. I look forward to continuing my work with Scott to get my business and me to a level of performance I hadn’t thought possible. Now I know it is!
Ricki Marks
Hawthorne Limousine
hawthornelimousine@msn.com
I joined Optimal Level in December to really expand my business to give me the option to leave my corporate job and work on my own terms. My challenge was building a stronger team and a more consistent personal business. In just 4 months, my business is booming! I have gained an amazing clarity about my business and myself, I'm more comfortable with what I have to offer, and what I can ask in return. I've also learned amazing networking skills that have really given me the ability to create connections when I attend business building events. I am so grateful to have Linda and my "Master mind group" to help and guide me every month! I couldn't recommend joining Optimal Level any higher!
Shannon Bednowicz
PartyLite Gifts
Shannon_Candles@yippee38.net
Optimal Level is unlike any other group to which I belong. Instead of being about networking, instead of being about education, instead of connecting me to my colleagues, it is about me. Optimal Level gives me the opportunity to examine who I am as a business person and the individual who I am which influences how I operate as a business person. It gives me the opportunity to educate myself in business strategies and introduces me to topics I would never think to or have the opportunity to review otherwise. Through Optimal Level, I have been able to examine the problems of others who are having similar struggles with their business life and personal lives which affect their businesses and as I come up with solutions for them - I come up with solutions for myself as well. Optimal Level has given me a chance to grow, while I have grown my business.
Erica Crohn Minchella, Attorney at Law
Erica.minchella@gmail.com
Scott worked with my employee to develop his skills in networking and his 30 second elevator pitch. His 6 week plan worked wonders. Not only does my employee have a precise understanding of my business, but he can now communicate that to potential clients in a confident and effective way. He is also able to tailor his conversation depending on what aspect of our business is pertinent to whom he is speaking to. Scott is an effective teacher and a great example in the area of networking.
Julie Savitt
AMS Earth Movers, Inc
julie@ams-earthmovers.com
www.ams-earthmovers.com
I have been working on so many areas throughout the past months in OL. It is nice to be able to customize my own recipe for success and have help setting goals - especially when I’m not used to setting them in the way we have been working on these past months. I think it is also important to have progress checks along life’s journey. I’m usually so busy racing around to get a million things done, that it is often hard to slow down and take a look at all I have done. OL has also shown me ways of reflecting & recognizing my successes as I achieve them. I appreciate having so many different women to have something (so important) in common with…”striving toward success” whatever your “success” is. Thanks Linda!
Michelle Ingram
Total Staffing Solutions
mingram@4tssi.com
Working with Linda has transformed my business from the inside out. Her insight and knowledge has been truly invaluable in helping me realize my business goals and finding the balance I need to keep everything working and in order. Linda is more than a business consultant, she is a true friend who is a champion for my greatness."
Cosette Yisrael
Yisrael Communications
cosette.yisrael@harmonigroupinc.com
Scott has been the business consultant for Have A Bashery, LLC for the last 8 months. He has helped me assess my business' competencies and deficiencies, as well as develop new business strategies. We worked specifically in the areas of company meaning, time management, working the essential business elements, and future growth plans. I have enjoyed working with Scott and have implemented changes that have helped the business, and me as an entrepreneur.
Marcy Fortnow
Have A Bashery
parties@haveabashery.com
“When I first joined Optimal Level, my biggest challenge was working "on" my business and not just "in" my business - in other words, learning how to wear many, many hats and changing them as needed. Through the pointed, and yet, gentle guidance from OL's leader and the diverse experience of the other members, my company grew by five fold after just four years. “
Irene Rozansky
R&A Crisis Management Services
irene@raconsulting.net
When I first joined Optimal Level, one of my biggest challenges was my communications with my business partner. After being in business together for almost a year, friends for 10 plus years, and seeing a dramatic increase in our business we were in need of a new style of communication. (Read this as less arguing). Having been a member for 6 months our communications have done a 180 and are now back on track to being 100% effective. The added value of Optimal Level is considerable! The unbiased opinions and perspectives allowed me to turn off my defenses long enough to actually hear good advise from other experienced members...and in the end also my business partner. Thank you for bringing sanity and happiness back into one of my most important relationships.
Doreen Avila
Willow Upholstery & Drapery
doreen@aleeupholstery.com
When I signed up for Optimal Level, I was the inveterate skeptic. I wasn't at all sure that you could help me, but I was kind of desperate because it seemed I had tried everything else. I didn't even admit my qualms to you. But right from the first, you drew me into the group by asking me to help others when I couldn't even help myself. But you knew that it is in helping others that we sometimes find ourselves again!
As you now know......I have hired 5 new team members since September, and I seem to be beyond the hurdle that propelled me to join. All of the steps you put into place worked for me, not so much because of the steps...but, more because of the stretching you make us do. You take us beyond the obvious. That is what I so much needed!
Linda, so much comes together for so many because of the insight you bring to the table. I do believe that I was able to get out of the place I was in and get back on track due to Optimal Level.
Pat Keegan
Decor & You
pkeegan@decorandyou.com
I have been working with Linda to advance my business since February of this year. I have made serious progress in some key issues I have wanted to work on and Linda does a great job in helping me see the potential in my business. She has given me fantastic advice to help me move my business forward and I can't recommend Optimal Level enough for anyone who is at a plateau in finding direction for the things in life that are important to them.
Sue Cotch Owner
Let’s Dish Personal Chef
I have found Optimal Level to be very helpful for me and my business. When I joined I didn't have a good handle on how to approach getting new business and the selling process. After only 6 months I have gained confidence and have a strategic focus on my business that I never had before. Optimal Level has also introduced me to a very exciting network of people who share my enthusiasm and passion for business.
Lauren Grey
Lauren Grey Graphics
lauren@greygraphics.com
When I joined Optimal Level five months ago, one of my biggest challenges was increasing my business. What I learned was that my challenge was really clarifying my purpose and knowing the direction I needed to take to increase business and feel in harmony with my goals and mission statement. I learned to budget my time and accomplish and prioritize the important things in both business and life. As a result, my success rate has improved and I’m working smarter, not harder.
Rosanne Gulisano
Lifestories: Creating a Memoir
lifestories10@aol.com
