Happy fall, although it stillfeels like summer in the Northeast for sure!  I'm readyfor some pumpkin spice everything, but the Universe seems to haveother plans.  As we are winding up for open enrollment, Ifind myself trying to take some time to do some things thatre-energize me.  You know, the things that feed your souland help you walk out feeling just plain good about what you justdid.  I've been doing some volunteering for hospice,traveling and attending some seminars that have a lot ofbrainstorming that I know will help jumpstart this OEseason!  I've also had the pleasure of getting connectedwith some incredible women in our field and the two ladies thismonth are on point to join our crew!  Please welcome,Rachel and Stacia to the club as these ladies share about their newadventures!

RachelDruckenmiller, UNMUTED

"At the age of 35, I've spent myentire career working for the same benefits consulting firm. I'vebeen an intrapreneur, someone who brings creativity and innovationto an organization like an entrepreneur but works for a company asan employee. I started our company's wellness initiative in 2007and have become a nationally recognized thought leader in theindustry.

As of September, I've taken the next step in my career journeyto launch my own business as a speaker. Along the way, I've learnedthree things about how to succeed at work that I wanted to sharewith you:

1) Know and own your strengths. If you haven'talready, take the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment. It'll help youfigure out your top talents and give you specific strategies forhow to use them.

2) Ask for feedback constantly. Gettingfeedback is one of the best ways to grow, but many of us are afraidof it. After every meeting or project, ask two questions of acoworker: 1)What's one thing I did well? and 2) What's one thing Icould do differently?

3) Go for it. You've got one life. Is there aproject you want to work on? Training you want to take? Aconference you want to go to? Someone you admire but haven'treached out to because you think you're not important enough? Stopthinking about doing it, and just go for it. The worst thingsomeone will say is "no."

StaciaDeWitt, Allstate

"I have gone through a lot of transition over the last coupleyears, both personally and professionally.  Irecently joined the team at Allstate, working as a field salesconsultant supporting our financial specialists in a three-statearea.  From day one, I have felt like I've found my homeand I'm blessed to be part of a team of amazing people.

The one thing I've learned is that success comes with buildingrelationships.  It's about helping people helpthemselves.  Building relationships is what I love to doand the financial services industry and my position at Allstategive me a chance to do that every single day.  I lovehelping people find solutions to the challenges they are facing –big or small.  I am constantly challenging my team to gothat extra mile. That's what brings out the best in all of us."

As always, if you know of great women in the field who areworking hard to make this this industry even better, send me anemail introduction at [email protected]. I'd loveto connect!