Co Authors Karen McCullough and Meredith McCullough's book The Seven Women Priojcet introduces readers to the Seven Women inside each of us. The more that we go out into the world and talk to women about their seven, the more we find that women are drawn to more than just one of these fabulous women. And that’s no surprise. Depending on the situation, we may pick and chose the qualities, talents, and even strategies that we need to put our best self forward. That said, however, deep down many of us do find that there is one woman (or two) that we naturally turn to again and again. She is our core, and we celebrate her!

       Talk amongst us and please join the conversation

• Reading the SWP did you find you were drawn to one woman more than the others? Which one? Why?
• Have you ever had a “Kate or Donna” moment? For example - “This weekend I had such a Hanna-morning. I didn’t get up until noon!”
• Think about your closet. It is said that we wear 80% of our closet 20% of the time.
• Does your 80% correspond to one of the SWP women?
• Does your core woman have a shopping “habit” that has you addicted to buying the same look over and over?

Take The Seven Women Test! It's Fun!

It's now day 13 of The final Diet  and I am down 8 pounds and I am happy!  Yesterday I was dressing to go to my TPG Breakfast Club meeting and I put on a pair of pants that I remembred were too tight and ... they kinds of fit!

I mean they wern't falling off of me but I zipped them up buttoned them easily! Yes...I felt good all day and was excited thinking about all the great clothes in my closet that I will be wearing very soon.  For me, one of the saddest things about gaining weight, besides looking fat, are the piles of clothes that don't fit.  Today with this tough economy we are all thinking about ways to save and "The Final Diet" for me is not only about losing weight it's also about saving $$$$$.

For example

• Great clothes sitting inmy closet waiting to be worn
• Healthier me- no meds
• Less weight on my knees- no knee surgery
• Saving $20K on Breast reduction- I was planning on having that done so I could swing a golf club
• Not to mention the wine bill... Club Soda is so much cheaper!

I'm thinking about all the money I am saving by losing the weight and it's making me love this diet!

It's day 6 of my Seven Women Project, "Final Diet" (-3lbs) and my neighbor Laura just dropped off a note with a huge bag of Halloween candies. The note says that she is having a big party on Friday night and could I please excuse the noise...and the candy I guess is a bribe!  Little does she know that just the smell of the milk chocolate baby-size Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (Hanna's alltime favorite!) is enough to drive me crazy.  Laura ruined my plan.  Every year I buy my Halloween candies like a week before Halloween and proceed to eat all of them and then the afternoon of Halloween run out to the store and buy more.

This year, the Year of the Final Diet,  I had a plan. There was no candy in my house until today! I am committted not to eat it but just in case I have to get it out of here...

Ok, Im back and it's gone.  We have to be strong for the next few day... fellow dieters unite and Don't Eat the Candy! Let's stick with the fruit...Remember Thanksgiving is just 27 days away. Let's save up for Pecan Pie!

Oh and BTW, I would never complain about a neighbor's noisey party! Party on, Garth! 

I have been talking about losing weight all of my life. My good friends, my sisters and Meredith all know that to be true.   It’s funny because when I see pictures of myself 10 years ago I look pretty good… not skinny but by no means a fatty… yet I have always seen myself as overweight.

And…well now I am. 

But things are going to change. I made the decision this weekend that it’s now or never and  I am on a mission to shed some serious pounds. 
So, you may be asking yourself what makes me think that this time my weight loss “project” will be successful? The answer is pretty easy if you’ve read, The Seven Women Project. This time I am having Kate (super organized) be in charge of my “Weight Loss Program” and not Hanna!

Yes, sad to say but our loving Hanna, the woman who loves comfort foods, has been running the food show in my house for many years now.

The Final Diet begins now- Kate has taken the weight loss reins and she is getting me totally prepared to succeed. As you SWP fans know, Kate loves a plan and a process. 

1. We cleaned out the pantry and got rid of all the salty-crunchies that I can eat unconsciously while watching The Biggest Looser. She filled the fridge with veggies, chicken and fish, and reminded me that green tea is a better option than Diet Coke.

2. She encouraged me to make a personalized notebook/journal. We filled it with 100 of the exact same pages that included a photo of me (when I size 8) a place to write date, a daily food journal, my current weight and measurements. Measuring is really important. Numbers don't lie...

3. I took a photo of me- for the future "before and after" sort of thing (It scared me)

4. I put a slim, happy Karen photo up on the fridge

I am ready to win this time! I need your help. Share all your diet tips and insights. Let's do this together!

I got an email on Friday from a woman (that I did not know) who runs the training department at a local college here in Houston.  The college books business trainings and seminars for corporations and local businesses. (I need to know her!)  She wanted to see my availability for a speaking event here in Houston the end of this month.

She said that the client wanted a FUN program and added that the word F.U.N. stumped her. She did not know of any programs that were fun so she asked around and she said that my name came up over and over again! Hmmm... I guess I am known for FUN. We met with the client and they not only booked me for that one event but for several more in future.

Being known for something is a good thing. In The Seven Women Project, Donna, the Master of Personal Branding asks, "What are you know for?"

The quickest way to find out is to ask.

Try this... Ask your friends, coworkers, and customers the following question: "Using as few words as possible, how would you descrive me to someone who has never met me?"

Are you brave enough to ask?

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking to the Michigan Education Association's Women.  I had presented two other programs for the Association ( Generations in the Workplace) and was asked to speak on the Seven Women Project at their annual event, Ladies Day at the MEA. Teri Battaglieri has been producing these events for the Association and she did a fantastic job. My session was to start at 1:30. Teri invited me to come early and have lunch.  I arrived at the MEA building a little before 12:30 and decided to set up the  books for the after program book sale.  A few women stopped by and before I knew it there was a line longer than I ever imagined- before I even spoke!  I needed help? and I got it! Deborah Garland jumped in and  saved the day. I forgot about lunch and singed over 100 books.

The underlying message of The Seven Women Project is Women helping and supporting other women.  This truly was a day of Women helping Women! Teri put a lot of thought and work into Ladies Day at the MEA and then Deborah jumps right in.  She got the lines organized, collected charges, made order lists for bracelets and because of her  the book singing was a huge success.  A big thanks goes out to Teri, Deborah and all of the fabulous women in the MEA.  You totally rock!

The Seven Women Project has been launched and you can get the book on Amazon Today! The Seven Women Project book launch was a success!  On April 29, 2010 hundreds of Houston women gathered to check out The Seven Women Project book launch event.  One thing I have learned working with the Gen X and Gen Y  is that if you are going to have an event it must be interactive.  No sitting around. That is so 2008!  We mixed things up, got people up and doing, and invited local vendors.  Our guests were not disappointed! Here are some of the pics taking you through the night. See more of the event's photos on our facebook fan page... and join today.

As each guest registered their photo was taken. See more of the event's photos on our Facebook fan page... and join

Kim Healy is taking Marlyn Drane's Photo (Marlyn is a Kate)

We printed the photos and half way through the night women were claiming their photo and deciding which of the Seven Women was their core woman.  We had created boards for each of the seven women and the guests were asked to pin their photo on to the board of the women they most related to. It was fun discovering who was who. That night a whole lot of Kate's were in the house.

Meredith and Nancy Anderson ( Nancy is a Donna)

Since one of our goals for the launch was to make it as interactive as possible  Meredith and I, along with our creative director Mike Svat, had an idea.  Mike (the book cover designer and layout guy)  photographed and  put a 7 beaded bracelet on the cover of the book representing the diversity and beauty of each of the Seven Women.  We found the exact beads plus many more and created a "Build-a-Bracelet" table. The guests could purchase the wire, chose their beads, and create their own bracelet.  We actually sold out! You can purchase a bracelet here.

Carly Forman (not sure yet) is helping create the perfect bracelet.

 We sold out of the bracelets- We have more now!

Meredith and I did a mini-program.  Meredith read the introduction and several of the guests had a teary eye.  So, naturally I had to ham it up and get everyone laughing.

We all had a lot of fun and when we segued into the  real mission of The Seven Women Project the guests got excited.  We want this book to help women connect with each other on a deeper level.  We want to build a community of successful women who are open enough to be happy for their friend's success, joys and triumphs.  We want to be the cheering squad, the open arms, and the ones who you can depend on to watch your backs.  We are not afraid when our friends rock because we know that there is enough rock for all of us!

Cecilia Rose (Donna) and Neena Newbery (Kate) know there is enough food for all of us!

Ruth McCurdy (Donna), Lisa Journagan(Sophia), Peggy Montgomery(Sophia)  and Brenda Harris(Gwen) know that there is enough work for all of us!

Roz Pactor (Sophia) knows that there is enough success and style for all of us!

See more of the event's photos on our facebook fan page... and join today.

In this crazy - busy - impersonal world, women across the generations are challenged to step into their most empowered selves to make positive changes in their own lives and the lives of those around them. The Seven Women Project offers practical, insightful and powerful tools and guidance on how to meet those challenges head on, while having a little fun in the process.

The coauthors: Karen McCullough and Meredith McCullough

Be a part of the Seven Women Movement- read the book...okay, please buy the book!

A book's success really depends on two things. First, it has to tell a good story that is relevant, interesting and useful. Second, you have to find an audience - and that is easier said than done. Meredith and I decided that we can grow an audience by building the Seven Women Project community through word of mouth (and mouse).  We have attracted almost 900 fans on The Seven Women Project Facebook Fanpage and that number is rising every minute thanks to our enthusiastic fans telling their friends, and their friends sharing with their friends... Sure we would love to be in Barns and Noble and Borders, but the reality is that small published books (Willard St. Publishers) like the Seven Women Project are not picked up by the brick and mortar until they sell over 5000 copies.

But Amazon is a different story - and maybe even a better choice!

First, Amazon sells the book at a discounted rate (bad for us, but really good for you), and secondly, Amazon reacts favorably to readers online reviews.  More positive reviews create more sales,  and the more sales the more  Amazon recommends your book to millions of people. The Amazon Recommendation goes like this: People who bought this book also bought... This suggested selleing is huge and can boost sales more than any other method. Readers are able to find books they want and even the smaller publishers have a great chance to sell their books! 

Amazon has removed the barries to book sales.

The Seven Women Project already has great reviews thanks to Karen Davis, Ren Resh, Aurelie Gallagher Krauss, Kim Zeiner, Bambi McCullough and Laura Lopez! Please go on and add your review before May 5th (If you read the Galley or pre-ordered). Help us grow the community and add your review! Putting a review up on Amazon also helps you in the SEO, so it's a win-win.

Then buy the book on May 5th! Cinco de Maya is the day to buy the Seven Women Project on line at Amazon.com! Spread the word and tell your frineds May 5th is the day: Seven Women Day!

When ex-fashion retailer turned business keynote speaker Karen McCullough asked her daughter Meredith to help her get started writing a book called The Seven Women, back in 2000,  she thought it was going to be a breeze. Meredith, a Notre Dame graduate was the news editor for ND ’s paper the Observer.  Karen knew that she would be the perfect person to help her get started writing a book about the seven fashion personalities inside women.

 
As the project unfolded Meredith’s real job, technology consulting, took her far from Houston.  She would check in with Karen occasionally, talking little about the book and fashion personalities, and more about her life’s challenges and work demands.  At the same time Karen’s new career in speaking was putting her in front of women who were facing similar work /life situations…although generations apart, they were going down the same path and the book , The Seven Women Project, took on a new and exciting direction.

Embracing the diversity of women, The Seven Women Project gives practical, insightful and at times playful advice on how to manage the challenges they face women at work, at home, and at play. By introducing seven female archetypes, Kate, Zoe, Donna, Hanna, Trudy, Gwen and Sophia, the authors give readers a “template” to identify their own strengths, talents, and complexities.
As the title suggests writing the book was a “Project” implying a collaborative undertaking that involves research leading to an end product - Karen and Meredith spend several years gathering their data and interviewing women across the country.

Karen McCullough is a former retail entrepreneur-turned award-winning National business keynote speaker.   Her daughter and co-author, Meredith spent 2 years running women’s groups in Santiago, Chile, did graduate work in women’s political participation  and today works in Washington D.C. as a Federal government consultant.

Not only is The Seven Women Project  full of great information-it’s also a lot of fun!
With one chapter dedicated to each women, the book helps the reader navigate the Seven Women landscape through
• Quizzes
• Stories
• Fashion advice
• Career strategies
• Lifestyle tips
• A peak in each woman’s closet, and other surprises.

The Seven Women Project - Your Personal Guides to Success in Work, Play and Dress, will be available  May 5, 2010 on Amazon.com. If you can’t wait you can purchased directly from the publisher.

When I asked my daughter Meredith to help me get started writing a book called The Seven Women back in 2000 I thought it was going to be a breeze. Actually, I thought that Meredith, being a Notre Dame graduate, and the news editor of ND’s daily paper, The Observer, was the perfect person to help with getting my thoughts down and get the ball rolling . The book was going to be about the seven fashion personalities of women. (Join our Facebook Fan Page)

As the project unfolded Meredith’s real job, technology consulting, took her far from Houston. She would check in with me periodically, talking very little about the book and fashion and more about her life’s challenges and work demands. At the same time my new career in business speaking was putting me in front of women who were facing similar work/life situation. Although we were generations apart in age, we were both going down the same path and the new book, The Seven Women Project, emerged. Read More