Gail Schenbaum – How a Phone Call in The Middle of The Night Led Her to Create The Umergency App For College Students and Their Parents

March 14, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

“Mom it’s me. I’m calling from the ambulance. I’m fine. But it’s really bad.”

After Gail Schenbaum took a frightening phone call in the middle of the night from her daughter who was in college several thousand miles away, she knew she had to use her entrepreneurial spirit to do something.

Previously an award-winning producer for companies like Warner Brothers, Columbia, Universal, Walt Disney, and Paramount, Gail has always been an incredible creator who sees problems as opportunities.

With that, Gail took her frightening situation and committed to founding the Umergency app- the all-in-one emergency health and safety solution for millions of college students and their families.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Focus on the solution, not the problem. When you start thinking creatively you begin to see other possibilities, and that may lead you to create something even better than you have right now.” – Gail Schenbaum

Show Notes:

HOW a phone call in the middle of the night charged her up to create the UMERGENCY App
Her BEST Action Steps to creating a powerful, helpful App
Her AHA moment
The SMART SHIFT she makes when feeling overwhelmed
Her Biggest Challenge
Her GENIUS Productivity Tip, “Beat the Clock.” This is Pure Gold
How Gail uses HUMOR to market her App
Her Superpower
The valuable lesson she learned from her father
And much much more

Find a support system. Don’t go it alone. Because when the chips are down, you really need support from those who believe in you and who will help you see it through with some love and kindness.” – Gail Schenbaum

Connect with Gail Schenbaum:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Umergency

You can’t delegate unless you feel comfortable and you know you’ve got the right people.” – Gail Schenbaum

I’ve Created a Special Video For You…

August 5, 2015 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

www.MoxieRetreat.com

When I think back to ALL the BIG leaps in success & income I've had over the years, I realize that a combination of two important things were present:

After experiencing the effects of some very expensive and very bad advice, I stopped asking and listening to people who could not possibly give me the support and sound advice I needed because they just did not have the skill set, or the experience to know the right answers. Instead, I sought out and received guidance, direction and solid business advice from people who were leaders in their industry – people who were more experienced and ahead of me in their entrepreneurial journey – they were where I wanted to be . Their advice to me was based on experience and results, instead of theory or guesswork.
I was never in my office, deep in my work, when significant breakthroughs emerged. When I think about leaps that increased my income by 20-50%, they were always when I removed myself from the daily business tasks and responsibilities of my life. I was in an environment where I had a clear head and could reflect, refocus, re-energize, reclaim and reinvent my vision for my life and business.

That's why I created the perfect space, forum and program for you to reclaim and refresh your vision and create the strategies necessary for you to get free from overwhelm while growing your business at the same time…

Smart Women Know What They Want

March 11, 2010 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Last week, after my husband Greg read my article “Smart Women Are a Lot Like Rocket Ships,” he had an interesting question: He said, “Every week you write about the same thing–making your Big Idea happen, Reaching your Goals and Dreams, getting the right support, blah, blah, blah… when are you going to write about something else?”

Being a woman who encourages new ideas and new perspectives, I went to take a bubble bath (a nightly self-care ritual!) and reflect on his question.

Smart Women Love, Give……and Have Fears

November 12, 2009 | By Joy Chudacoff 2 Comments

This morning, as I sit here at my desk looking out the window at a beautiful, 11-12-09Article[2] sunny fall day, I’m a bit at a loss on how to begin this article. This article isn’t any different from the others I share with you each week. As usual, it’s about my own life and the reflections that I believe are helpful to other Smart Women. This article is about loving deeply, giving gifts and feeling fear along the way. Sounds like something all women deal with—yes?

Over the last few months, I’ve been going through testing at UCLA Medical Center here in Los Angeles to determine if I might be a possible match to donate one of my kidneys to my husband, Greg. Greg has Polycystic Kidney Disease and one of the affects is possible kidney failure over time. His kidney function has steadily been declining and we’ve known for some time that this day would come. What we didn’t know until now, is that I am, in fact, a match! On Tuesday, December 1, we will go together to UCLA Medical Center where I will undergo a procedure to remove one of my healthy kidneys and Greg will receive that kidney so he can feel healthy, energetic and enjoy life to the fullest once again.

Why do I tell you this story? Because what I’m going through right now holds many similarities for women. Women love. Women give. Women have fears. Some days I want to go jump in my bed, pull the covers over my head, go to sleep and wake up to realize that this has been a bad dream. Do you think I’m scared? You bet. Do I have anxiety? Of course. Will I feel the fear and do it anyway? Absolutely. How do you feel the fear and do it anyway? I’m sure, as you are sitting here reading this, you are thinking about some fears that you have, right? And it’s possible that you haven’t been able to overcome that fear yet.

Smart Women Find Their “Flow”

July 24, 2009 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Yesterday, when I picked my daughter Jenna up from tennis camp, she rushed over and handed me her uneaten snack and her nearly full water bottle, with a big smile on her face. I was surprised she hadn’t eaten her snack (after all, Goldfish is her favorite) and I couldn’t imagine her not drinking a gallon of 07-23-09Woman2 water on this hot summer day! When I asked her about it, she exclaimed, “Mommy, I was having so much fun playing tennis I forgot to eat or drink!” Jenna was doing something that energized her. She found an activity that caused her to forget about everything. She was in her “flow.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women find their “flow” and live energetic, passionate lives.

When I was studying to become a Professional Certified Coach, I was required to read lots of books that were essential to my growth as a coach. I found one book in particular, Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life (Masterminds Series) by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (“chick-Sent-me-high”) to be quite thought-provoking. Csikszentmihalyi believes that many people walk through their lives without ever becoming aware of what energizes them or where they find themselves in the “flow.” Athletes sometimes refer to this as being “in the zone.” “Flow” is the place where you lose yourself and all track of time. You know when you are in the “flow” when you finish a task or project and you feel more energized than when you began. Have you ever done something and forgotten to look at the clock or stopped to take a break for lunch or even go to the bathroom? I personally find my “flow” in my work with women, watching my children play sports and listening to solo piano.

Smart Women Need a “Lighthouse”

June 4, 2009 | By Joy Chudacoff 1 Comment

A few weeks ago, my sister Rene and I had the opportunity to visit our Mom in Florida. It was a “girl’s getaway” filled with shopping, going to the beach, tasty food, wine and great conversation. Every morning we had a ritual of getting up, grabbing our coffee and heading out to the beach for a walk. On the first morning, I noticed a large, magnificent lighthouse that stood in the distance. Whether it was a bright sunny day or one surrounded by dark, gloomy clouds, the lighthouse was performing its job. In the top of the tower, you could see the bright light on a continuous turning cycle, reminding those at sea that a safe harbor and guiding light is close by if you need one. If you look the word lighthouse up in the dictionary, it’s a “tower or structure displaying a very bright light for the guidance of ships to help avoid dangerous areas.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women always need a lighthouse in their lives.

In order for you to realize your Big ideas, dreams and goals, you need to have a “beacon of light” in your life. Having a “lighthouse” can help you navigate “troubled” waters and avoid a possible dangerous situation along the way. I’ve shared with you many times that I would not be where I am today without all of my coaches and mentors—my “guiding lights.” It has been a key factor in navigating my passionate, purposeful life.

“Troubled” waters come and go in our lives. Smart Women make sure that they have a safe harbor and a guiding light for these times to help them navigate a clearly thought out map on how to proceed or move ahead with clarity. I’m going to share a few ideas so that you can begin to think about creating your very own “lighthouse.”

Find a Coach – Nearly all of the successful, clear thinking people that I meet have had a coach at one time or another. They realize that living a meaningful life requires a thinking partner. Someone who can help them navigate their journey along the way, see possible danger, and help provide solutions to avoid these areas. Every year, I create time in my calendar and a place in my budget to have a coach help me navigate the year ahead.

Form a Mastermind Group – Bringing a small group of like-minded people together at a regular time each month is a wonderful way to provide that extra “beacon of light” in your life and others lives. I facilitate several Success Masterminds for Women here in Los Angeles and I’m a member of one myself. These groups provide an overall sense of clarity and positive action steps to move ahead. Make sure that everyone in the group is positive and intentional about their journey forward. Having a strong confidentiality policy is always wise.

How about you? Do you have “lighthouse” in your life? Do you have a person or group of people who champion you? Someone who offers a safe harbor where you can explore where you are now and help you navigate what’s next? Many women express that my Women’s Success Circles act as their “lighthouse.” The Success Circle creates a “safe harbor” where women can share their lives in a non-judgmental, confidential setting.

One morning, we went out for a walk and the sky was turning dark and gloomy. The ocean waves were rough and the wind was picking up. In the distance I saw boats being guided by the lighthouse to make it back safely to the harbor. Whether your life is in a positive, upbeat phase or possibly times of “troubled” waters, Smart Women know they must have a “lighthouse” in which to turn.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions™, a Professional Certified Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website, www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Smart Women Create the Right Web

October 7, 2008 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Earlier this week, I was taking an early morning walk with a good friend and smart woman and we ran into a few spider webs (literally!). It’s the time of year when spiders are spinning and carefully crafting their webs together in a way that will serve and protect them. This got me thinking about how Smart Women always create a strong and sturdy web in their lives both at work and at home.

If you look up the word “web” in the dictionary, one of the definitions is “anything put together in a careful way.” It’s essential that women take the time to put their lives together in a careful and thoughtful way. Why? There are so many options and opportunities for women in the world today. You have so many choices on how you choose to live your life. What’s most important is to make those choices authentically.

And then from that place of authenticity, spin your life together, design and build it with energy and passion. Let it be a life that soars with meaning to you, the designer. If you choose not to do this, then your life just “happens.” It can begin to unfold in unpredictable ways with no meaning or direction. Putting your authentic life together involves having people who are supportive and loving, an environment that provides relaxation, and a place for inspired creativity.

In your business life, when you have a Big Idea, dream or goal, it’s essential that you build a web that is super strong in its marketing message as well as making sure that you have solutions on how to manage your time well so that you get the right things done during your day. When my friend ran into the spider web, it was a challenge to pull all of the sticky threads off her hat and sweatshirt.

A well-designed spider web is very sticky. Have you created a product or service that carries a message that will “stick” with your target market? When your target market needs your product or service, do they immediately think of you or someone else? A spider knows that in order to build a strong web, she needs the support of strong tree branches to protect her from the wind and other elements. This is true for you as well. Having a strong support system in your life (both personally and professionally) is key to making it happen—to help you go to the next level.

I’ve Created a Special Video For You…

Smart Women Know What They Want

Smart Women Love, Give……and Have Fears

Smart Women Find Their “Flow”

Smart Women Need a “Lighthouse”

Smart Women Create the Right Web

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