Expat Women July 2010 Home Page

Hi Everyone, We have just uploaded our Expat Women July 2010 Home Page. Please take a look, share it with your friends and tweet about it for us. Thank you!

Success Story
Alexandra Hendrickson
Executive Search VP, Shanghai
Alexandra Hendrickson serves as Executive Vice President in DHR International's Shanghai office, helping clients hire highly-qualified leaders for today's international marketplace. DHR International is the fifth largest retained executive search firm in the United States and has over 50 locations worldwide...
Read more...

Business Idea
Surf Haven Bali
Janine Hall
Janine Hall combined her career skills with her passion for coaching, surfing, yoga and well-being to create Surf Haven Bali, a luxury boutique surf and yoga spa retreat. Her guests experience an adventure of a lifetime and leave recharged and refreshed...
Read more...

Relocation
To Relocate Or Not To Relocate?
Louise Wiles
Currently over 200 million people worldwide are living abroad... But how do you decide if relocating is right for you? Expat coach Louise Wiles takes us through 8 steps to making your 'best decision'...
Read more...

Writers
Write Your Life Stories
Jo Parfitt
We talk to British author, publisher and writer's mentor Jo Parfitt, about her new Write Your Life Stories program and learn from her advice about writing, common mistakes for newbie authors, a checklist for writers wanting to publish their book and more...
Read more...

Expat Confession
How Do I Start A Business?
Expat Women Girlfriend
I have been here in Europe for eight months and I am now at a point where I have accepted that I can no longer work in my old profession and need to look for alternatives. I would love to start a business and I have a few ideas, but which idea should I pursue and how do I start a business abroad?
Read more...

Girl Scouts
USA Girl Scouts Overseas
Sandy Thomas
USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) provides the Girl Scout program to American girls living outside the United States and those attending American or international schools abroad. USAGSO's Director, Sandy Thomas, talks about how USAGSO has been fostering responsible global citizens since 1925...
Read more...

Not A Member Yet?
Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters. To receive our newsletter this month (which will be sent out a little later than usual, due to the holiday season) and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing's Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site ExpatWomen.com, and also receive your link to our free e-book of Winning Stories!

Thank you very much and have a fabulous July! Andrea

Networking Abroad: Easier Or More Difficult?

Hi Everyone, My next guest blog post on Adrienne Graham's online Fearless Woman Magazine was uploaded yesterday and if you are interested, here is how it starts...

"Anyone who is serious about proactively moving their career or business forward, knows they need to network. If this is you, hopefully you have already read Adrienne’s Go Ahead, Talk to Strangers: The Modern Girl’s Guide To Fearless Networking and you are already investing time each month into meeting new people, building quality relationships and offering help to contacts in your inner circle.

Networking Abroad

Many women who are great networkers at home and have worked hard to establish a solid network, worry what it will be like to network (for work and/or pleasure) if they are relocated abroad.

“I am only going abroad for two years. How will I have enough time to build up my network abroad?”

"How can people know how credible I am back home?”

“Will it be easier or more difficult to network on foreign shores?”

To read more, please support Adrienne and click on the full article on her site here: Networking Abroad: Easier or More Difficult? 

I encourage you to leave your comments, feedback, experiences on her site (or ours) as well.

Thanks and best wishes, Everyone! Andrea. :-)

Missed Some Great Expat Links On Twitter?

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been going really well.  Here are some of the expat-related articles that I have shouted out about on Twitter recently that might interest you:

Can you repatriate long-term expat managers? http://bit.ly/afCuJh

Expats and Entrepreneurs: Read Tom Frost's 'Why We Left': Brilliant! http://bit.ly/cWUtzj

Military spouse career program reviewed http://bit.ly/a32fLY

American journalist in Yemen falls for married US Ambassador. Held at gunpoint. Suicide attack. http://bit.ly/diZgwW

Expat rebellion over the (multiple) moving process: American foreign service wife's blog http://bit.ly/b9BWJN

How to create a career abroad by Jennifer Bradley http://bit.ly/bP8BLG

3 Ways to Start Your Overseas Job Transition - Harvard Bus Review http://web.hbr.org/e/?e=mt&d=062110

Esquire: President Obama Thinks Like A Third Culture Kid (TCK) http://bit.ly/drITgS

Expat Partners: Use your opportunity abroad to reinvent yourselves http://bit.ly/9ifG40

Do I Regret Moving Overseas? http://bit.ly/bKQSYM

How Can Expat Families Prepare for School Placement Interviews? http://bit.ly/916LG5

Expat Parents: Do all children really adjust so easily to a move? http://bit.ly/b433Rj

Tips For Expat Partners http://bit.ly/b1zgql

Expat Parents: The Risks of Parenting While Plugged In http://nyti.ms/aFG3Nv

Expat assignments rising. Survey says companies’ strategies support business objectives. Family? Not mentioned: http://bit.ly/aW2fxh

Has parenting expatriate children become an Olympic event? http://bit.ly/cnUXjC

Families in Global Transition Conference Speaker Proposals for March 2011 now open http://bit.ly/aSIdFg

Female expat spouses in Saudi can connect with flexible opportunities via new Women’s Skills Bureau (WSB) at www.wsb-ksa.com

Mercer to acquire ORC Worldwide http://bit.ly/cUtvd4

Expat in Vienna struggles with adaptation to local culture: Ever felt like this? http://bit.ly/baxBoV

Expat article: Challenges and opportunities for the trailing spouse http://bit.ly/99AbfR

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

Thanks Everyone and enjoy your weekend!  Andrea. :-)

Brats Without Borders & TCKs

Hi Everyone, Last year we interviewed Donna Musil about her excellent documentary, Brats: Our Journey Home.  I invite you to take a read, if you have not already.

If you were a "military brat" or lived the life of a Third Culture Kid (TCK), Brats: Our Journey Home really is a very well-done DVD and I highly recommend it.

Here is some news today from Donna:

"BRATS" Wins Founder's Choice Award at 2010 G.I. Film Festival

"In May, I traveled to Washington, DC to attend the 2010 G.I. Film Festival, the only festival in the country that celebrates the successes and sacrifices of the American military through the medium of film. "BRATS: Our Journey Home" was one of the select films chosen to screen this year, and BRATS was fortunate enough to also win the Founder's Choice Award for the film the founders of the festival thought deserved special attention!

It was a very moving experience. I met so many wonderful people - fellow filmmakers, brats, soldiers, and spouses. There were celebrities there - ABC News co-anchor Bob Woodruff, Glenn Close, Gary Sinise, and others. In fact, Major Laura Law, one of the festival's founders, announced at our screening that journalist Bob Woodruff took the time to personally watch the "BRATS" film and said he loved it and had never seen anything like it!"

I was particularly moved by a documentary called "Honor in the Valley of Tears," directed by Eric Dow, which explored the first-hand account of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient David H. McNerney's experience fighting in the Central Highlands at the height of the Viet Nam War. My father fought in that same area with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. I also really enjoyed a short film by two brat filmmakers - Keva and Karen Keyes - called "Letters From Home!" Please do whatever you can to support this fine festival and our fellow brat filmmakers."  Donna

Free Screenings

Here are some free screenings for you to take advantage of, if you are in the area:

Alexandria, VA - June 25-26, 2010, exact time TBA - Stuttgart All Classes Reunion - Free Screening  Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314

Wiesbaden, Germany - June 24-27, 2010, exact time TBA - Wiesbaden 2010 General HH Arnold All Classes Reunion - Free Screening - Nh Aukamm Wiesbaden, Aukamm Allee, 31, D-65191 Wiesbaden, Germany

New Orleans, LA - June 25, 2010, 8:30 p.m. - Karlsruhe American High School Reunion - Free Screening - Deutsche Haus, 200 S. Galvez St., New Orleans, LA 70119-6514, 504-522-8014  504-522-8014

Reston, VA - August 5-7, 2010 (1-4 pm on the 5th and 7th, and 9:30am-12:30pm on the 6th - Overseas Brats Homecoming - Free Screening "BRATS: Our Journey Home" and "BRATS RAW: Kristofferson & Schwarzkopf" - Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston Town Square, VA

"BRATS" Available For Rent on YouTube

"For the very first time, the "BRATS" film is available for rent online through YouTube! You asked, and now we've delivered!

It seems the entertainment business is still clinging to its old distribution methods and there aren't many options out there for independent filmmakers, without giving away the farm. Fortunately, YouTube started a program that's just perfect for grassroots efforts like ours! You can rent the film online for $9.99 for 24 hours (45% goes to YouTube, 55% goes to Brats Without Borders). All proceeds go directly to the nonprofit to support our other programs, like Operation Military Brat and the new BRATS Workshops.

We're still hoping to broadcast the film in the U.S., and to find a fair retail distribution deal, but until then, you can buy or rent the film online. Armed Forces Network rebroadcast the documentary everywhere but the U.S. on their Family Channel last April. Hopefully, there's an American television station that thinks the lives of military children are worth acknowledging and exploring." Donna

Keep up your great work, Donna!  Andrea

Expat Kids Book: The Mission Of Detective Mike Moving Abroad

Hi Everyone, This is a quick but sincere shout-out for Simone T. Costa Eriksson and Ana Serra's recently-published book for expatriate children: The Mission of Detective Mike Moving Abroad (affiliate link).

"Mike is unsettled. He knows that something odd is happening at home because his parents are whispering all the time. But, being a detective, Mike is quickly on the case. He enlists his friend Ikem to help him get to the bottom of the mystery. Mike and his family are moving to another country, making him confused and fearful. What will happen to his toys, his room, his friends, his house? How will he learn to talk in a new language and how will he ever make new friends? As his mission gathers momentum, Mike and Ikem find the answers to his questions and solutions to his problems.

One of the authors is a psychologist, both are experienced expatriates, parents, storytellers and interculturalists. The Mission of Detective Mike: Moving Abroad will allay the fears of every relocating family member as this sensitive story, written in words and terms that make sense to young children, shares rock solid strategies and advice that anyone will find easy to apply." 
(Back Cover)

It was a little wordy for my young ones (so I paraphrased for them a little), but the messages are good and my kids loved the pictures.  Perhaps 9-10 olds would suit the book best. :-)

Congrats to Simone and Ana for turning their dream for this book into a reality... and good luck to all those families relocating right now!  Andrea

Globe Women Summits: 2010; 2011 & 2012

Hi Everyone, Last month, the annual Globe Women Summit celebrated its 20th anniversary in Beijing, China, with 1,040 delegates attending (the largest number in the Summit's history), from 80 countries.  This was an impressive achievement and a credit to both the Summit's longevity and to the Summit's President and key spokesperson, Irene Natividad. 

For those of you interested in reading more about this year's summit, please see below some extracts from the Globe Women newsletter today.

For those of you interested in attending future summits, the 2011 Globe Women Summit will be held in Turkey (dates to be advised) and the 2012 Summit in Greece.

Best wishes for your day/evening! Andrea

Extracts From The Globe Women Summit Newsletter

"At the Opening Ceremony, Summit President Irene Natividad reminded participants of the uniqueness of this global forum – its focus on advancing women’s economic status worldwide; its program emphasis on exchanges of solutions and strategies forged by women; its insistence on having business, government and civil society leaders present at each forum – the three ‘legs’ of change, according to Natividad.

The Honorable Chen Zhili, Vice Chair of China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chair of the All-China Women’s Federation, extended her country’s welcome and was joined by Vietnam’s Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson and the First Lady of Tanzania Salma Kikwete in greeting women leaders from around the world. A spectacular display of Chinese cultural music and dance capped the opening of the Summit in the Great Hall of the People, the venue for visiting heads of state over the years, whose doors China opened to women from around the world at the Summit."

"...How business can work together with government and civil society was the theme of the Ministerial Roundtable preceding the Summit. Thirty women government ministers of various portfolios and special high-level government officials including U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga shared with each other examples of such partnerships. Corporate leaders as well were invited to present programs they have developed with various governments to improve women’s lives.

ITT’s President for China and India Mike Kuchenbrod spoke of the water program they initiated in China that enabled women and girls in rural areas to secure water through water pumps they learn to put together. Qiagen’s President for Asia Pacific Victor Shi announced the provision of one million test kits that his company is making available to ensure early detection of cervical cancer among Chinese women and those in other developing economies. Wing dar Ker, Microsoft’s General Manager in the Asia Pacific and Greater China Region, spoke of technology programs for women in the region; Ernst & Young’s Billie Williamson described their project to assist entrepreneurial women, while the U.N.’s Executive Director for the International Trade Center Patricia Francis spoke of a telephony project with the Liberian government which enabled market price information to be conveyed speedily to farmers, many of whom are women.

The Ministers themselves voted to recognize two of their peers to receive the Ministerial Best Practices in Public/Private Partnership Awards. This year, Mexico’s Undersecretary of Labor Patricia Espinosa Torres was awarded for her ministry’s program to certify day workers, many of whom are women, to enable them to receive benefits. Saudi Arabia’s first woman minister, Norah al Faiz, Vice Minister of Education, was lauded for various education initiatives for girls developed in alliance with various partners in her country. For each project, the Global Summit of Women gave a U.S.$5,000.00 mini-grant to distinguish these initiatives. (For more information on past and recent Ministerial Roundtables, click here, click to GSW, then to Ministerial Roundtable.)

In keeping with the Summit’s tradition of saluting achievement on the world’s stage on behalf of women, the Global Women’s Leadership Award went to two renowned, outstanding women: Finland’s President Tarja Halonen and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata."

"...The 2010 Summit Women’s Achievement Award was given to Chen Zhili, Vice Chair of China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chair of the All-China Women’s Federation (with the rank of Minister). One of the highest ranking women in the Chinese government, Minister Chen serves as a role model for the women in her country as to the heights they can reach with effort, intelligence and leadership skills. She is now heading up ACWF’s programs to expand Chinese women’s economic and educational opportunities as well as to improve women’s health.

The Global Summit of Women itself received an ‘award’ for its two-decade record of bringing women together internationally to improve women’s economic futures by the Sungjoo Foundation. Its President, Sungjoo Kim (CEO of MCM), granted the Summit a US$1 million pledge to be used towards the engagement of youth in entrepreneurship. This year’s Youth Forum – the first of many to come -- brought over 100 business students from China for a program that introduced social and commercial entrepreneurship to this audience.

The Summit marked this generous commitment by granting, in turn, a U.S.$10,000 mini-grant to the All-China Women’s Federation for its Innovative Microenterprise Development program for Chinese Women. One of the interesting aspects of this program included coverage of the interest payments on loans secured by women business owners to start or to grow their businesses, thus releasing additional capitalization.

Since the 2007 in Berlin, the Summit has made a commitment to engage women worldwide to prevent cervical cancer – the only health issue in its program because there is a solution: effective testing and vaccinations. It is the only cancer for which the cause is known, HPV (human papilloma virus), and for which new technologies provide a promise of its eradication. The Summit asked its delegates to inform themselves and others, to get themselves tested and to persuade family members and networks to do the same. Hundreds of delegates at the Beijing Summit submitted pledge cards committing themselves to this fight and thus joining GSW’s Global Consortium to End Cervical Cancer."

"...As it moves towards the next decade, the Global Summit of Women announced two major initiatives to mark its 20th anniversary. The first is NGO Leads, a training program designed to assist NGO leaders in establishing sustainable organizations. “Women’s business associations and economic development groups do a tremendous service for women in other countries, but many are challenged by the demands of meeting their mission with limited resources and largely volunteer-driven programs, so NGO Leads is an attempt to assist in helping these critical institutions to grow,” states Summit President Irene Natividad.

Since small business is the foundation of every economy in the world, Entrepreneurial Legacies is a program that the Summit is launching to connect young women and girls with successful women entrepreneurs in different parts of the world. “You cannot imagine a career in which you don’t see role models, so showcasing women entrepreneurs in your own country and sharing their stories of lessons learned is a powerful source of inspiration, as well as information, for seeing entrepreneurship as a future path for economic success,” explains Natividad. (For NGOs to apply for either program, please email Globe Women here.)"

Successful Expat Women &/Or Interesting Expat Women Entrepreneurs?

Hi Everyone, We are always on the lookout for successful expat women and/or interesting expat entrepreneurs to profile on Expat Women to inspire other women living (or aspiring to live) abroad.

Success Stories: Please get in touch with us if you are (or you know of) a very senior corporate woman abroad, or you (or someone you know) run(s) a business that turns over US$1+ million.  We are always looking for women like you to profile and we would sincerely appreciate your help in tracking down women for this category!

Business Ideas: Please get in touch with us if you are an expat woman running a really interesting business abroad, whose business concept has not already been profiled here.  Right now, we know of a lot of fabulous coaches and consultants, so we are looking for some 'different' ideas - some really unique businesses out there doing some really fun stuff.  Anyone, anyone...? 

Please write to us with your ideas or nominations here.  Be sure to include your website address and a brief description of why you (or your nominee) would make a great Expat Women profile. 

Thanks in advance for your help and have a wonderful week! Andrea

Urgent Call For Short-Term Expat Researchers in Bahrain, Finland, Switzerland, Abu Dhabi and the Netherlands

Hi Everyone, Susan Musich's start-up Passport Career is now in full-force and she has some great organizations who have now subscribed to her great resource!

To enhance the Passport Career information database, Susan is now seeking expat researchers to gather information on detailed job search information (using a specific template and guidance provided by Passport Career) in: Bahrain; Finland; Switzerland; Abu Dhabi; and the Netherlands.

"If you are interested in taking on a 3-4 week (approximately 25-40 hours average total time needed) research assignment, please email Susan as soon as possible with the following information:
1. Your name and email contact details;
2. Your destination of interest;
3. Country and city in which you currently reside;
4. Why you are interested in this research project;
5. What skills or qualifications you might have to undertake this project; and
6. Confirmation that you can commit 25-40 hours to complete the research within 3-4 weeks.

Please note that Passport Career offers compensation for this project and also makes a small donation to Expat Women for each person hired. Thanks and good luck!  Susan Musich"

Please feel free to pass this email to anyone else who might (also) be interested.  Many thanks, Andrea.

Note of 17 June 2010: Susan is also now looking urgently for a researcher in Egypt and also in Puerto Rico.  Thanks.

Brilliant Social Media Video

Hi Everyone, If you only watch one this month, I highly recommend that you watch Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh).  I believe it is put out by Erik Qualman (author of SocialNomics) in association with Hult International Business School.  The video is lively, it's professional, it's insightful and it's... brilliant.

Is Social Media a fad, or the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?

Some of the facts it shares at the beginning (to groovy music):

• 50% of the world's population are under 30;
• 96% of Millennials (aka Generation Y) have joined a social network;
• Facebook tops Google (!) for weekly traffic on the web;
• 1 in 8 couples married in the United States met via social networks; and
• If Facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd largest in the world, behind China and India.

But that is only the beginning... I encourage you to click here and enjoy it for yourself. 

Expat entrepreneurs, freelancers, relocation companies and service providers, take notes.

Have a fantastic weekend, Andrea.

Expat Women: Moving Countries?

Hi Everyone, If you an Expat Women member moving countries in the next few months, or you have recently moved, please email us your old and new location country, so when we send things out to members living in a specific country, we do not send you anything for your old location.  Many thanks and good luck with your move! Andrea

New Expat Mobility Magazine Edition Online

Hi Everyone, We got such a good response last month from our inclusion of the most recent Worldwide ERC® Mobility Magazine articles that we would like to share June's new feature stories as well.  If you are in the expat, global mobility and/or relocation industries, enjoy!  Andrea

The European Union: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask
By Anne Dean, GMS

The Global Economy: Closer Than You Think
By Tom Wortham, CRP, GMS

The Basics of Split Payrolls for Expatriates: Splits and Shadows
By Amy Parrent, GMS, CBP, CCP

The Expatriate Experience in South Africa
By Michelle Colona and Danielle Turner

The New Worldwide ERC® Summary Appraisal Report
By Jan Hatfield-Goldman

Analyzing the Perfect Storm: the Present State of the Moving and Storage Industry
By Eric Reed, CRP, GMS

Afghanistan
By Ellen Harris, GMS, and Greg Forgrave

Israel - Where Cultures Collide
By Michele Bar-Pereg

Locating Suitable Housing in Amsterdam
By Ilona Eichler

Moving Abroad? Don’t Forget to Pack Your Brain
By Maureen Rabotin, GMS

Responding to Change in the Business World Through Industry-Specific Quality Standards
By Boris A. Populoh

Happy reading!

Expat Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs: Can You Be Found?

Hi Everyone, If you are an expat job seeker or entrepreneur, I invite you to read the guest blog post I wrote this week for Adrienne Graham's Fearless Woman Magazine.

The post is entitled Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs: Can You Be Found? and I hope you get something out of it. It starts like this...

"Once upon a time, job seekers looked for jobs, entrepreneurs looked for clients, and occasionally, employers and clients advertised their needs to the general marketplace – crossing their fingers each time and hoping for a positive, quality response. That was the old marketplace.

Today, we are living in a whole new generation of job and client search. Employers are proactively targeting specific job candidates and clients are seeking out the best entrepreneurial businesses with which to partner. The traditionally-hunted have become the hunters, and the old-style hunters have morphed into the hunted. It is a very interesting dynamic and it is shaking up the whole job/client search paradigm.

Example One: The Large Recruiter
Recently, I met a very senior HR Director working for a very large telecommunications company. He told me..."

To read more, please support Adrienne's new online magazine and click here.  Many thanks.  Andrea :-)

PS. Feedback very welcome, by the way (either on our blog or Adrienne's)! 

Dialogue For Action (For Women), June 24, NYC

Hello Everyone, Here is some information for an event in New York City on June 24, 2010, which is part of the International Herald Tribune’s Female Factor series...

Cécilia Attias Foundation For Women's Dialogue For Action

"The Dialogue for Action will function as a new dynamic platform where action-driven discussions will focus exclusively on identifying the three main women’s issues affecting each continent and finding solutions to improve them.

It will be the first event of its kind to build a dynamic community of organizations that champion the cause of women’s dignity, equality and well-being. We are delighted to be inviting NGO leaders from every continent and to provide them with a platform for dialogue and sharing best practices.

Experts and influencers from the public and private sectors of business, politics, media and academia will provide insight to identify solutions to the most pressing issues facing women.

Following the Dialogue for Action, The Cécilia Attias Foundation for Women will see that dedicated initiatives are implemented where needed. Local regional meetings will be organized as part of the follow-up in the field to assess the progress of each initiative.

With the help of dedicated NGO leaders, our media partners and through a series of creative fundraising events, we will work towards the betterment of women’s lives around the world.

Registration

If you have received an invitation letter, please complete the following online registration process to participate in the Dialogue for Action 2010.

Apply For An Invitation

The Dialogue for Action is an invitation-only forum. We welcome NGO leaders and women’s rights experts from the public and private sectors to apply.

To be considered for an invitation, please send us an email or call us at +1 (212) 794 8801 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +1 (212) 794 8801 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext 107."

Thanks.

Learn From An 86-Year-Old Entrepreneur Who Has Sold 100,000 Knitting Books

Hi Everyone, I read an interview today from Mom Invented®'s Tamara Monosoff, who we featured last month for her new book, Your Million Dollar Dream (affiliate link).

Tamara talked to 86-year-old Betty Lampen who is a knitting pro and who has sold 100,000 copies of her books since 1991. 

We could learn a lot from Betty.  For example:

1. If you have an idea, give it a go!

2. "Never give up. There is always somebody out there who is interested. You just have to find them."

3. You do not need 60 - 100 thousand words to publish a best-selling book. Nor do you need to be the world's leading expert. Betty's books were only 18 pages long (!) and I have a feeling she is not the (only) world expert on knitting.

Questions for You: Do you have an idea for a book?  If you are not writing your book, why not? 

Andrea

Tips For Expat Women In Europe

Hi Everyone, If you are an expat woman living in Europe, or you know someone who is, you might like to take a look at (and/or send on to a friend) one of the recent articles I wrote with Expatica to help expatriate women living in The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Spain, Russia (Moscow), France and Germany.  Thanks!  Andrea

Tips for Expat Women in The Netherlands

Tips for Expat Women in Belgium

Tips for Expat Women in Switzerland

Tips for Expat Women in the United Kingdom

Tips for Expat Women in Luxembourg

Tips for Expat Women in Spain

Tips for Expat Women in Moscow

Tips for Expat Women in France

Tips for Expat Women in Germany

Speaker Proposals Now Invited For 2011 Families In Global Transitions Conference

Hi Everyone, The team at Families In Global Transition (FIGT) are now inviting speaker proposals for their conference next year (March 17-19) in Washington D.C., United States.

"Do you know the challenges of moving across borders? Do you have a personal history to share, a work philosophy, a special expertise, research findings, or strategies for successful international relocation? If so, FIGT wants to hear from you.

For over 10 years, the annual Families In Global Transition conference has inspired, educated and brought together those serving families on global assignments as well as family members themselves.

The FIGT community of speakers has included top professionals across all sectors. FIGT's mission is to promote the positive value of the international experience, and empower the family unit and those who serve it before, during and after international transitions.

Our work is spread to hundreds worldwide through the words of our distinguished conference speakers and the connections they make with attendees.

...If you are a returning facilitator or new to the FIGT community, we invite you to submit a response to our Request For Proposal (RFP). Deadline for submissions is September 10, 2010."

Click here to read more.  Click here to see the speakers list from the 2010 conference.  I hope you wise and talented women submit a proposal! Andrea :-)

90+ Essential Social Media Resources

Hi Everyone, Mashable published yesterday a really, really great list of social media resources that I highly recommend you take a look at if you are at all interested in social media, or growing your personal or business profile online. 

Just looking at the number of times their blog post has been retweeted (nearly 2,000 times) and shared on Facebook (more than 500 times) in less than 24 hours, I am sure it is not just me who sees this blog posting as a real gem of a collection of social media resources and tools.

Click here to read their 90+ Essential Social Media Resources! Andrea :-)

Expat Women June 2010 Home Page

Hi Everyone, We have just uploaded our Expat Women June 2010 Home Page. Please take a look, share it with your friends and tweet about it for us. Thank you!

Success Story
Wendy Wilson
Co-Founder and Editorial Director, AngloINFO
South African Wendy Wilson left the film industry to move with her British-born husband Mike Hardaker to the French Riviera to start AngloINFO.com in September 2000. Run as a franchise business, AngloINFO now has 50 local websites worldwide, serving over 50 million page views per month...
Read more...

Business Idea
Love Travel Guides
Fiona Caulfield
A self-confessed luxury vagabond, Fiona Caulfield is the creator of Love Travel guidebooks, designed for the discerning traveler. Already, Fiona has sold more than 15,000 books because unlike mass tourist books, her books are written like you are being chaperoned by a good friend...
Read more...

Repatriation
How To Overcome Expat Withdrawal
Heather Carreiro
After living abroad, moving back to your home country can be even more of a shock than learning to live in a new country and culture. So much of how we define ourselves while living and working overseas is wrapped up in being an expat. Our friends back ‘home’ think of us as "Mary in Japan" or "Susan in Dubai." In our host countries, we are always the foreigner – the one who is different. Even the very way we introduce ourselves and think of ourselves tends to be connected with this element of 'otherness'...
Read more...

Global Nomads & University
The Global Nomad's Guide to University Transition
Tina Quick
We talk to Tina Quick about her new book for TCKs transitioning to university. Tina, mother of three college-aged daughters, is an adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) who, having made 18 moves, understands well the cycle of loss and grief involved in a cross–cultural lifestyle...
Read more...

Expat Confession
A Lonely Affair
Expat Women Girlfriend
My husband’s new role is very demanding and he is frequently travelling away from home. I am embarrassed to confess that my loneliness has led me to start an affair with my neighbor. I feel extremely guilty about what I am doing and know that this is not right. Ironically, I started the affair to ease my loneliness...
Read more...

Job-Seekers
Career Resource Center For Expatriates, Singapore
Alka Chandiramani
The Career Resource Center For Expatriates, Singapore (CRCE) is a unique, not-for-profit initiative run through the American Association of Singapore, offering invaluable services to expatriates seeking job local opportunities. We talked to Alka Chandiramani to learn more about this great concept...
Read more...

Not A Member Yet?

Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters.

To receive our newsletter this month (which will hopefully be sent out this week) and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing's Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site ExpatWomen.com, and also receive your link to our free e-book of Winning Stories!

Thank you very much and have a fantastic June! Andrea

Expat Women Is Getting A Face Lift & We Want Your Ideas!

Hi Everyone, It has been over two years since our Expat Women site has had any cosmetic surgery, so we think it is time again for a little botox.

Hopefully you noticed that earlier this month we increased the font size of all the main text on our site to improve readability. 

Now, thanks to the kind support of our Sponsors, we now have some money put aside to modernize our design a little too.

A special thanks in advance to repat Beth Nori (and a former Expat Women Mentor - when we had Mentors) of Nori Studios for again helping us to liven up our existing website design.

We have given Beth our ideas, but we would love your ideas too.

Do you like the pink?  Do you not like the pink?

What part of the site do you love?  What part really bugs you?

Can you find what you need?  What can't you find easily?

If you had an endless bucket of money, what is the thing that you would most like improved?

We cannot promise what ideas we will use, but we would genuinely like to hear your input, to help us know where best to spend our (modest, but workable) design budget.

We would really appreciate it if you could please email us all of your ideas by the end of the week.

Many, many thanks!  Andrea

Stevie Awards For Women In Business

Hi Everyone, The 2010 Stevie Awards for Women in Business are now accepting entries!

If you are a woman who has achieved amazing things (and I am sure that many of you have), why not consider entering this year to see how you fare.

On Tuesday 20 July at 1pm ET (U.S.), they are running a free webinar entitled "How to Enter the Stevie Awards for Women in Business".  Learn more about the webinar here.

To enter, click here for the entry kit. The early-bird entry deadline is July 28.  Good luck expat women!   Andrea :-)

Missed Some Expat Articles On Twitter?

Hi Everyone, Here are some expat-related articles that I have shouted out about on Twitter recently that might interest you:

Managing Yourself: Making It Overseas: Alan versus Debra - Harvard Business Review http://bit.ly/bCl0g1

Expats: The pros and cons of working and living abroad http://bit.ly/au864J

New Manpower research reveals 31% of employers worldwide are having difficulty finding the right talent http://bit.ly/bx7o9V

Thriving as an expat spouse - Success begins before you leave http://bit.ly/aoRyWk

Expat Life, Expat Death, published in the The Telegraph UK online, by long-term expat and Expat Women supporter Apple Gidley. Sending love to you, Apple. x http://bit.ly/aAmV17

Top 50 Most Influential Expats in the Gulf - not one woman made the list http://bit.ly/9XKzd1

Premium expat packages harder to come by: more companies turn to the local pay scale http://bit.ly/aktYNU

Moving? Recommendations for greening your home from the get-go http://bit.ly/9JQpsa

What happens when expats move on? Repatriation post by Kama Frankling http://bit.ly/chNWeg

When an expat family repatriates or moves on, remember those who stay behind, by Emily Prucha http://bit.ly/dmwqXf

French-speaking expats: check out new French language blog from expat writer Vernonique Martin-Place http://bit.ly/aaKdni

Weichert survey results for mobility programs http://bit.ly/cfDcH4

The Results Are In: 500 Entries Received for the Expat Youth Scholarship! Clements International thanks everyone who participated! http://bit.ly/aDmcwc

Click here if you would like to follow me in 'real time' on Twitter. Thanks. Andrea. :-)

Dads Get Baby Blues

Hi Everyone, I read with interest a story in my local paper (New Sunday Times, Malaysia) last weekend that referred to a recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. 

The JAMA article was entitled Prenatal and Postpartum Depression in Fathers and Its Association With Maternal Depression and was the result of a a very extensive survey of depression in fathers, from January 1980 to October 2009.  It was made up of a total of 43 studies involving 28 004 participants. 

The research concluded that:
"Prenatal and postpartum depression was evident in about 10% of men in the reviewed studies and was relatively higher in the 3- to 6-month postpartum period. Paternal depression also showed a moderate positive correlation with maternal depression."

Very, very interesting.  Andrea

Have You Ever Worked Abroad? Would You Like 3 Free Coaching Sessions & A Free Book?

Hi Everyone, Elizabeth Kruempelmann of Global Citizen Coaching is updating the work abroad section of her 2004 book The Global Citizen: A Guide to Creating an International Life and Career (affiliate link) and she is looking for your story of working abroad.

If you have ever worked abroad (as an employee or as a freelancer), or if you have ever taken part in a work-exchange program, internship or volunteer program abroad, Elizabeth would love to hear from you (about what obstacles you faced, how you overcame them and what tips you could offer others). 

Elizabeth says your story does not need to be long: 50 - 300 words is great.  She is just looking for words of wisdom for others who aspire to work abroad.

In return, for each story included in her updated book, Elizabeth is willing to offer three free coaching sessions (on the subject of your choice) plus a copy of her updated book!  That's pretty impressive as an incentive for writing only 50 - 300 words - so get your thinking caps on and give it a go!
 
Deadline for submissions to Elizabeth is next Monday, 24 May.  The stories selected for inclusion will be announced by Elizabeth (to her network) on 31 May.

Thanks and good luck!  Andrea

Clements International Expat Youth Scholarships Update

Hi Everyone, Thank you very much to all those students who submitted an entry this year to Clements International's Expat Youth Scholarship.

Over 500 entries were received and the winners will be announced on September 13.  In the meantime, you are invited to sign up for updates and information on the Expat Youth Scholarship Facebook and Twitter pages.

Good luck to all who applied!  Andrea

Bought A House Abroad In The Last 3 Years?

Hi Everyone, House Hunters International is still traveling all over the globe to find families for their reality show for the HGTV network (similar to the BBC's "A Place In The Sun"). 

If you bought a home abroad within the past three years, or you are a real estate agency who sold one to a family that is fluent in English and between 30 - 50 years of age, please email Tekella Foster from Leopard Films urgently.  Thanks.

Note: If your family is included in the series, a US$1500 out-of-pocket expenses is applicable.  If you are a real estate agency, a US$500 honorarium applies.

Expat Women May 2010 Newsletter

Hi Everyone, My apologies, I forgot to blog that we sent our Expat Women newsletter in the first week of May (not as bad as forgetting to collect your 75-year-old mother from the grocery store, which happened last week to my friend Anna), so if you were a member then but did not receive your newsletter, please tell us here.

May Newsletter

In addition to our May Expat Women home page features, our newsletter included:

* The name of the winner (Katherine C in China - congratulations Katherine!) of our Amazon Kindle Tell-A-Friend competition.  A big thank you to everyone who supported us by telling their friends about us for that competition!

* The name of our Explorer Publishing mini-guide pack winner;

* Our winning story by Expat Women member Jeanie (a New Zealander in China), entitled Where's My Dessert and Coffee?; and

* A useful article from our Silver Sponsor Clements International..... 10 Things You Need To Know About International Auto Insurance.

If you are not a member of our main site, ExpatWomen.com, please join today to support us (and receive a link to download our free Expat Women e-book "Winning Stories"). This will also mean that next month your newsletter will be delivered directly to your inbox.

Thanks Everyone!  Andrea

Expat Dreams Gone Sour

Hi Everyone, Here is a well-written piece in the UK's Mail Online today about three expat marriages that went sour due to cultural adjustment difficulties, financial woes and the associated relationship stress of moving abroad. (Note This is not an article about infidelity abroad.)

Please click here on the article if you are interested (or if you know someone who might be):

The Expat Dream Killed Our Marriages: Don't Pack Your Bags And Sell Up Until You've Read These Three Salutary Stories

Sending good thoughts and best wishes to Maria-Louse, Sharon and Carol - three British expat women now living alone in France.  Andrea

Writers, Authors & Self-Publishers Be Quick! Online Conference May 12-14

Hi Everyone, I just discovered what looks like a really great online conference, if you are a writer, author and/or a current or wannabe self-publisher... 

It is the Self-Publishers Online Conference and it is being run May 12-14 (US Pacific time).  You can listen 'live' for free, or you can pay US$97 for the downloads (if you have a credit card from one of these countries: United States; Australia; Canada; England/Great Britain; Ireland; New Zealand; or Northern Ireland) as I just did, so you can listen later at your convenience.

But hurry... it is almost May 12, so if this conference sounds like you, check it out quickly.  Best wishes, Andrea.

SUMMARY OF THE AGENDA

Day 1 - May 12 - Writing/Publishing

Keynote: Dan Poynter
Self-Publishing Past, Present, and Future

Marcia Yudkin
Writing Without Angst

Writing & Publishing Roundtable: Q & A

Susan Daffron & James Byrd
Finish Your Book the "Publishize" Way

Mark Levine
How to Avoid Publishing Pitfalls

Hobie Hobart
From Book Cover to Blockbuster Brand: How Choosing the Right Book Cover Can Launch Your Business


Day 2 - May 13 - Promotion

Keynote: Fern Reiss
How Self-Publishers Can Thrive in Today's Publishing Climate

MJ Rose
Buzz Your Book

Promotion Roundtable: Q & A

John Kremer
Book Promotion 101: The Secrets to Book Marketing Success

Kate Bandos
DIY Book Promotion

Internet Publicity: How to Leverage Social Media for Profit


Day 3 - May 14 - Build Your Empire

Keynote: Mark Victor Hansen
How to Become a Wealthy Writer

Peter Bowerman
Build Your Own "Well Fed" Empire

Empire Building Roundtable: Q & A

William Patterson
How to Turn Your Product Line into a Fortune

Janet Goldstein
The Platform Manifesto for Authorpreneurs: Grow Your Visibility and Tribe to Grow Your Sales, Success, and Satisfaction

Peter Winick
Develop and Execute a Strategy to Monetize Your Platform

The £6m Ad That's Got Britain Talking - And Sobbing

Hi Everyone, Here for your pleasure is one of those occasion videos that we give a shout-out to... because we loved it. 

It is only 90 seconds, I know it is only an advert and I did not even know who/what/where John Lewis was until after I watched it and clicked on the John Lewis site... but I found my eyes watering too!  Really well-done 90-second chronicle of the life of a woman. :-)

Read the press page first here then watch the YouTube video below (if you are reading this online) or via the press page link (if you are reading this via an email or RSS feed).

Enjoy and have a great week!  Andrea

New Mobility Magazine Edition Online

Hi Everyone, It has been quite a while since we have given a shout-out to Worldwide ERC®'s Mobility Magazine - designed for professionals (or even those just curious) in the expat, global mobility and relocation industries. 

However, their latest edition is now online, so now is a perfect time to click on some of their great articles below and take a read...

Culture and Communication 101
By Sean Dubberke

Crossroads in the Moving and Storage Industry
By Eric Reed, CRP, GMS

Risk Management for Our Times
By Patrick Moore

Security Impact on the Employee Mobility Industry
By Laura May Carmack

Navigating the Comparable Minefield
By Joseph Palumbo, SRA, and Alvin “Chip” Wagner III, SCRP, SRA

The First Steps in Educating Potential Transferees
By Pamela S. Dunleavy, CRP, and Stefanie R. Schreck, CRP, GMS

Regional Real Estate— Planning for the Year Ahead
By Mike Puckett, CRP, and Renee Carnes-Rook, CRP

How to Maintain Healthy Sleep Patterns: Issues of Civil Liability in Immigration Matters
By Ben Kranc

Managed Care Versus Agent Database: What Works in Relocation?
By Pam O’Connor, SCRP, and Sue Carey, SCRP, GMS

Benchmarking Relocation Policies: The Results Are in—Now What?
By Janet Olkowski, SCRP, GMS

Standing the Test of Time? Protecting REO and Short Sale Investments
By Lindsay Filby

Subpart A and SEVIS II: Will Your J-1 Program Sponsor Be Ready?
By Darra Klein

The Decade in Review: How Technology Has Improved the Mobility Process
By Matthew Dickerson, CRP

Technology and Global Mobility: The Future Is Today
By Michael S. Cadden, GMS

Repatriation— a Stranger at Home
By Rashel Meiworm

Safeguarding the Most Precious of Possessions During a Move: One’s Identity
By Glenn Maykish

Happy reading!  Andrea

Be A Reinvention Queen! In The New Fearless Woman Magazine

Hi Everyone, If you are an expat woman who has lost her career identity abroad and who is looking for ideas and encouragement for the next stage of her career, I invite you to read my guest blog post Be A Reinvention Queen! in the new Fearless Woman Magazine. 

Adrienne Graham, the founder of this new, free, online magazine (available soon for hard-copy-subscribers as well) is an amazing visionary and while you are on her site, I also encourage you to sign up to her magazine - as I am sure it will be great!

Thanks as always for your support, Andrea.

Twitter Updates For Social Media

Hi Everyone, Here are 8 recent 'social media' tweets I have made that might interest you, especially if you are an expat entrepreneur, or anyone helping their company's online strategy...

Facebook Now Commands 41% of Social Media Traffic- http://bit.ly/92J1aw @mashable

Here's what Chris Brogan told ABC news about making money via blogging - http://bit.ly/cW5EmQ @chrisbrogan

Mark Cuban's "Why You Should Never Listen To Your Customers" http://bit.ly/bx1WyD ...interesting Thanks @RachelleGardner's blog

2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report http://bit.ly/SMMIR by @mike_stelzner 1,900 peers surveyed

Very interesting slide about Kavit's 'Blog versus Website' positioning recommendation for all of your social media tools http://bit.ly/dkxT8B

Looking for work? Read Little Pink Book's Social Media Job Hunt article http://dlvra.me/s/3ellT

Mashable’s Weekly Job Listings in Social Media - http://bit.ly/b8ORJw @mashable

Please click here if you would like to follow me in 'real time' on Twitter. 

Many thanks and have a fabulous week!  Andrea

Expat Women May 2010 Home Page

Hi Everyone, We have just uploaded our Expat Women May 2010 home page. Please take a look, share it with your friends and tweet about it for us. Thank you!

Success Story
Lynda Armstrong OBE FEI
Technical VP, Shell International
Lynda Armstrong OBE FEI, awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, has worked for Shell for more than 35 years in a variety of assignments around the world. Lynda’s current position is Technical Vice President with Shell International, based in the Netherlands...
Read more…

Business Idea
Masha Malka
Success Coaching
Masha Malka is a former Soviet refugee who has gone from living life with little clarity and focus to becoming a successful entrepreneur, best-selling author, international speaker and a mentor to many. She is a resident coach for the national radio station Talk Radio Europe in Spain and has done over 200 radio interviews...
Read more…

Motivational
Embracing the Pain and Power of Change
Nona Jordan
Living overseas can be a constant barrage of new and exciting experiences. However, even the most savvy and confident of women can get thrown off balance during the unexpected changes that life throws their way, resulting in painful body aches and/or emotions...
Read more…

Expat Confession
My Kids Are My All
Expat Women Girlfriend
I am a lawyer who gave up my own very successful practice to move abroad with my husband over 14 years ago. My husband travels extensively for work and I am worried that I am too attached to my children... my days revolve around my kids entirely and I willingly turn down social functions...
Read more…

Starting A Business
Got A Million Dollar Dream?
Learn From Tamara Monosoff
Former expat Tamara Monosoff is a mother and businesswoman who knows all about making dreams come true. Tamara made her own dreams come true when she invented and successfully sold her product in thousands of stores nationwide. She has also made the dreams of thousands of other mothers come true...
Read more…

Worldwide ERC® Event 
Insights From Asia Pacific Conference
Andrea Martins
Have you ever made a last-minute decision to attend a conference and then found yourself having such a wonderful time you wondered why you had never attended before? Well, that happened to me recently at the Worldwide ERC® conference in Hong Kong...
Read more…

Not A Member Yet?
Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters. To receive our newsletter this month (which will hopefully be sent next week) and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing's Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site ExpatWomen.com, and also receive your link to our free e-book of Winning Stories!

Amazon Kindle Competition
We will be closing this competition today, 5pm NY time.  The winner be announced on this blog next week.

Thank you very much and have a fabulous May!  Andrea

Twitter Updates For Relocation & Conferences: What Have You Missed?

Hi Everyone, If you are interested in conference and/or relocation industry updates, here are some of my recent tweets (nearly all are not already on this blog) that might interest you:

Latest Cartus survey reveals new global relocation trends http://bit.ly/cr6c5v

WITI's Women and Technology Summit, San Jose, CA, 12-14 Sept 2010 http://bit.ly/clxECs

Brookfields' annual Global #Relocation Trends Survey released http://bit.ly/9YKJNL

Top 10 Global #Immigration Mistakes and How Companies Can Avoid Them - Free Webinar http://bit.ly/d6EeDU

43rd Atlas® Corporate Relocation Survey results: Less people willing to relocate. More short-termers http://bit.ly/bMDzqK @Atlas_Van_Lines

Forum for Expatriate Management holding Global Mobility Summit & Awards Dinner, New York, 4 Oct 2010 www.bit.ly/c0xcT7

Forum for Expatriate Management holding Global Mobility Summit & Awards Dinner, London, 15 Nov 2010 http://bit.ly/92ypX2

The sold-out EuRA Conference in Palma this week has been postponed until April due to ash havoc http://bit.ly/aW7w8x

Some of the speakers lined up for the first Fearless #Woman Summit in Atlanta, June 16-17 http://bit.ly/aeupgX

School Choice appoints Global Mobility expert Timothy Dwyer as new COO http://bit.ly/crhoj9 Read our i/v with CEO Liz http://bit.ly/aeaHPX

Did you go to the FIGT Conference in March? If yes, you might yourself in @crossingculture 's photos http://bit.ly/ch0cmZ

Mark your calendar: Next FIGT conference: Mar 17-19, 2011, Washington, DC. Subscribe for updates http://www.figt.org RT @crossingculture

Effective Parenting Conference Dubai 24 April Our friend Becky Grappo speaking: 'How To Get Kids To Think About T'row' http://bit.ly/ab8AfH

PwC's 'Talent mobility 2020: The Next Generation of International Assignments' expects 50% more expats http://bit.ly/aBDZEY RT @expatsguide

Info evening Paris (18 May) http://bit.ly/bB8MHh about Women's International Networking (W.I.N.) conference (6-9 Oct) Paris

Please click here if you would like to follow me in 'real time' on Twitter.  Thanks.  Andrea. :-)

Expat Women: Do You Have A Story To Share?

Hi Everyone, Do you have an expat story to share about an experience you have had abroad?  If so, we would l-o-v-e to hear from you, because every month we select a winning story to showcase in our monthly newsletter and we are always in need of great stories!  See our Read The Stories section here. Submit your story here.  Thank you!  Andrea

Twitter Updates For Writers: What Have You Missed?

Hi Everyone, If you are interested in 'all things writing' but you are not following me on Twitter, here are some writers' tidbits (not mentioned already in this blog) that I have tweeted recently, that you might enjoy...

Are you a mother and a writer? 6 writing opportunities for you http://bit.ly/cAE7jN Thanks to @HOHWWriter

12 steps to your Amazon bestseller - Tips from Stephanie Hale on @JoParfitt's blog http://bit.ly/cVdb4U

Opportunity for writers age 18-34 to be a Glimpse Correspondent for National Geographic http://bit.ly/aaDjiH via @WriterAbroad

London Book Fair went ahead, but attendance down 20%, numerous exhibitor stands empty & Tony Blair event cancelled http://bit.ly/csxF5e

Book Expo America (BEA) coming up next month! May 25 - 27 New York Headlined by Barbra Streisand http://bit.ly/a155b4

2010 Expat & Work Abroad Writing Contest Winners http://bit.ly/bMuwM6 Special congrats: Expat Women member Wendy Hollands (runner-up)!

Want to sell your books? Best 5 tips from book promo seminar in London last weekend thanks to @JoParfitt http://bit.ly/aozFzh (scroll down)

Writing and/or just about to publish a book? Read Anna M.Clark's experience on literary agent blog @rachellegardner http://bit.ly/cMH6hu

Excellent interview with expat author of Career In Your Suitcase @joparfitt about publishing and marketing your books http://bit.ly/bRuBl

Huffington Post List of 50 best book people on Twitter! RT @Thandelike @riverheadbooks http://ow.ly/1wvmV

Writers’ workshops around the world http://bit.ly/ddBcyp RT @Thandelike

How to judge, and sell, a book by its cover http://bit.ly/8YAGGA RT @JoParfitt

If you would like to follow me in 'real time' on Twitter, please click here. Thanks, Andrea.

Got A Million Dollar Dream?

Hi Everyone, Next week we are featuring on our Expat Women May home page an interview with Mom Invented®'s Tamara Monosoff about her new book, Your Million Dollar Dream (affiliate link). 

Interestingly, I have been a fan of Tamara's ever since I went through my 'inventing ideas' stage several years ago.  About a month ago, I came across her name again online and started following her on Twitter.  She followed me back and sent a direct message with some great feedback about ExpatWomen.com and told me that she used to be an expat in Hong Kong.  Then a couple of weeks later when she talked about her upcoming book on Twitter, I asked for a review copy and whallah (!)... Tamara sent me the only PDF copy she has sent to anyone... and it was at that moment that I was thinking that Twitter really was a powerful connecting medium. :-)

Tamara's New Book

In short, Tamara's Your Million Dollar Dream is an excellent book for any new business person.  It talks about finding the 'right' business for you.  It talks about matching your personality with your business.  It covers (US-focused, but useful for any country) funding/financing.  And it spends a few chapters on email marketing, blogs, social media and social networking (aimed at business owners just starting to explore these marketing channels, rather than the already-savvy social media mavens).  It has some wonderful success stories scattered throughout as examples.  Plus, it includes some fabulous motivational quotes (which are now hanging on my wall).

Why Tell You Now?

We are sharing a little of our May feature early because we want to help Tamara to get on the Amazon bestseller list on April 28...

If you are interested in buying her new book, please think about buying it on April 28 US time rather than sometime next month, because April 28 is the day she is celebrating her book launch by giving way lots of bonus extras for anyone who buys the book from Amazon.com, as well as being the day she is trying to get on the Amazon bestseller list.

Many thanks!  Andrea

Tamara's Bio

"Tamara Monosoff is an American mother and businesswoman who knows all about making dreams come true. Tamara made her own dreams come true when she invented and successfully sold her award-winning TP Saver® product in thousands of stores nationwide. She has also made the dreams of thousands of other mothers come true through her company Mom Invented® and her best-selling books The Mom Inventors Handbook: How To Turn Your Great Idea into the Next Big Thing; Secrets of Millionaire Moms: Learn How They Turned Great Ideas into Booming Businesses; and The One Page Business Plan for Women in Business (co-authored with Jim Horan).

Since May 2004, Tamara and her products have been featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, The New Yorker, Time, People, US News & World Report, Oprah and Fortune Small Business magazines. Tamara has appeared on ABC’s The View, NBC’s Today Show, NBC’s Nightly News, ABC’s Good Morning America Weekend, The Bloomberg Report, BusinessWeek TV, CNN News live, CNNfn, CNNSaturday, CNNMoney, CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, CNBC’s The Wall Street Journal Report, AOL, ABC News Now, The WB Network, Inside Edition as well as over 100 local TV media outlets across America.

Prior to founding Mom Invented®, Tamara worked in Washington D.C. in the Clinton Administration where she served as Senior Communications Associate for the President's Initiative on Race at the White House, Education Director for the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, and Chief of Staff for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. She also worked as an expat in Hong Kong."

Tamara has received several business awards and is a frequent speaker on Entrepreneurship and Women and Leadership. She has a Masters (MA) and Doctorate Degree (Ed.D.) from the University of San Francisco, and a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara."  ExpatWomen.com

Stay tuned for Tamara's interview on our May home page and in our May newsletter.  (Please sign up here for our newsletters if you are not already a member of our main Expat Women site.  Thanks.)