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Sparks Business Institute (O)717-513-0011 / 814-689-2816 (FX)814-689-2184 www.sparksbusinessinstitute.org www.drsherronsparks.us

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August 2009

Voice 4 Women

is launched, discussing issues of concern for women. Please sign the guest book. Share the site with your friends and loved ones if you find it of value.

www.voice4women.com

June, 2009
I am deeply concerned about the increased incidence of violence against women. I will be adding information to my blog as well as information on the radio site.

I truly believe that women are a gift of GOD to the world if they are permitted to be; but emotional and physical abuse as they grow into womanhood turn many women cold. I have seen many shut down their natural loving kindness for self protection. We were created to be the hand that offers love, support and protection to our mates and children - we do so at heavy costs to ourselves, especially if it is not appreciated or reciprocated.

Find a quiet moment - talk to the child within and remember the love and optimism you felt before the storms of survival made you put on the armor.

I am very glad that I learned to protect myself and let my natural instincts return. I can love deeply, give a caring hand to the world, and yet see the situations that come across my path for what they are.

Get back to being you! You are a wonderful woman - Go, help heal the world with your love.
S

March, 2009
Hello world! It is surprising what a few months of good health can do to your energy and attitude. I'm ready to take on the world - coming with me for the ride of a life time?

The recent down turn in the economy has affected us all. Some crawl in the hole and pull it in after them, waiting...Others capitalize on other's misfortune...Some wait for the stimulus promise...While a group of never say die, are gearing up and experiencing life.

This current period of our lives - IS LIFE! Don't make the mistake of not experiencing it.

The lessons we are to learn in this are very important - I would say, critical to your development! It is all about choice. Pride and depression can hold you back - take a deep breath, pray and step out and experience this vital time in history. Learn new skills! Negative experiences are often the window to the world outside. They are a catalyst that opens a new path.

Most of us have read "Who Moved My Cheese", if not get a copy. Your life is never going to be the same - things have changed. You are dealing with a new set of rules. Figure them out and move forward. Don't wait for yesterday, it's not coming back...

Consider this a new opportunity to find yourself and your strengths.

You may be saying, what do you know?

I used hard times to encourage myself to go back to school; to not take another person's dictation of what my life should be. Each day is a gift - open it with wonder-filled anticipation, and pull out the pieces that have been given to you and create yourself happiness.

It is a choice.

It is YOUR choice!

August 2008
A major illness has given me the insight to simplify and focus - on myself and on you!

It was a difficult decision, but I closed my office in Harrisburg and moved everything to State College to be in one location i.e. Sparks Business Institute, StopGap Radio for Women and Dr Sherron Sparks Counseling. This move encompasses the training division, the speaking division, the coaching division and the business consulting.

I will be teaching at Penn State University - Weekend College and at the Altoona Penn State.

The radio show is getting a large amount of visitors and will be doing new shows shortly. The collective wisdom of the women has been a God-send to many women. We are thankful that it can continue.

For more info you can contact me at: Sherron@sparksbusinessinstitute.org

Thanks for hanging in there with us through the changes

Note:
What a year is all I can say. It came on like a tornado in December and has kept me spinning all year long. I sometimes wonder where it will drop me - I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore, Toto.

When I started the long arduous journey to get my doctorate it was for many reasons - because it was within me, for professional reasons, for social reasons, to help other women, to guide anyone in need of finding their path, credibility, was on a roll after working through the Bachelors and Masters, didn't know how to stop, financial aid, etc. And the past 12 years have been the best in terms of professional development in my life.

I asked God early on to let me learn the lessons he wanted me to learn so that I wouldn't just be spouting facts - I wanted to be able to empathize, to truly relate to those who needed my help. The only think I caution you, is to be careful what you ask for - you may get it!

I wanted to help women and was a strong, sassy, opinionated woman who didn't put up with much. My 12 year journey has led me into the depths of despair in surviving assault, violence, poverty, affluence, COO, General Manager, unemployment, social death, illness, losing my home, gaining a home, love, hate, published writer, speaker, trainer, counselor, coach, coveted, shunned, sexy, dowdy, size 3, size 12, brilliant, stupid, dynamic, genius, near catatonic, passion, enduring faith, friend and lover. I have been woman! I now know the pain in another woman's eyes - I have experienced it. I now know the painful steps of recovering from failure and the joy of walking strong and proud. I have learned to cover my own back from the bruises and arrows of those who would stop my journey. I have looked into the eyes of my enemy, cloaked as my friend and wondered why. I have walked the dark of night in my soul to find the light of a new beginning. I have experienced the smile that never quite reached the eyes of those who took my ideas and made them their own. I have felt the pain of jealousy and agonizing death in my heart as a loved one seduced another.

Yes, dear lord, I asked to experience the pain of a woman so I could help them. I have experienced the blood tears of one in business so I would know how to guide them around the razor edges of life.

I accept this journey as more than academic, and my evolution to a psychologist with the stripes of the bar code to make me legitimate.

I present myself, humbly to you, as a Psychologist. Educated in the University, Educated in the World.

And now I begin a new journey...my calling to help women. I truly believe that women are the hand that rock the cradle of society. I thank God for the lessons that will help me to help them on their journey

I was privileged to be asked to be in several books in 2007.

The first came out early January -
The Christian Woman's Guide to Success. My chapter was entitled "Boundaries - What you will and will not allow in your life!"

The second came out in August. It was entitled, and I was the featured author. The title of the book was The Women's Journey to Wellness: Mind, Body & Spirit. My chapter was entitled, "Healing the Inner Child."

My last book coming out this year will be "Beyond the Body: Developing Inner Beauty" My chapter for this book was entitled "Picking Your Self Up After Falling."

The books are available on Amazon www.amazon.com as well as through the PWN Bookstore www.pwnbooks.com

For more information on seminars on the subjects: Boundaries; Healing the Inner Child and/or Picking Yourself Up After Falling - email me at Sherron@sparksbusinessinstitute.org

Writing is my first real love and I plan to write more in the upcoming year - keep watching.

Sherron

Note #2: Our Training Division really took off this year and I am always trying to find the modules to help with professional development or to minimize the skills gap.

I have fantastic crew of professional trainers on hand to administer the training to every audience.

I have been blessed to have some great talent sent my way: Deb, Bill, Jolene, Hilleary

For a training catalogs email info@sparksbusinessinstitute.org for more information.

Note #3:

E-books
I will be publishing several e-books in the next few months. Keep watching this page and I will announce them as they come out!

Online Store
I also will be revamping the online store to suit your needs -- Let me know what you are looking for.

Radio Show
Our wonderful forum for women is undergoing a change. Stop Gap Radio for Women is evolving into it's own entity after two years of success. Keep watching and listening at www.stopgapradio.com for the change. Let us know your ideas.

"They're only words,
but words are all I have,
to take your heart away..."

On My Way To The Forum...

It is such a rush when we find someone we can talk to that truly connects to what we are saying. I have several friends like that who understand this complex mind - and I value them immensely.

My sister Roseanne and my good friend Walt Cox are a gift from God to me. They listen to my Napoleonic rantings about saving the world and gently smile and feed the fire with gentle tips of wisdom.

We often lament about how sometimes it is hard to find someone to talk to who understands the creative mind. So why not a creative think tank - where "thinkers" get together to talk about deep soul searching subjects and issues of the day. We are in the process of setting up "Sparks Creative Institute."

It sounds quite similar to the main business, and I questioned the name, but upon reflection - it says it all. It is a place of higher learning to spark the creative thought and stimulate the brain. Webster's Dictionary says that an Institute is an organization for the promotion of a cause.

I am a person who needs mental stimulation - and I am not alone. Email us at info@sparksbusinessinstitute.org for more information on upcoming sessions.

ALWAYS
We need to remember that our coworkers are our extended family and we spend up to 60 hours a week with many of them - more time than we spend with our families.

Not too long ago, a wonderful young mother gave each of us a small vial of bubbles she bought for her children and thought of her children at work. We truly were children that day and the laughter was as light as the bubbles.

Take a look at the faces of your new family that you spend a large part of your life with. View them through new eyes. Like it or not, they are your family, warts and all. And once in a while they will make your day by giving you tiny bubbles to blow, taking you back to the joy of childhood.
-She

10/07

Autumn is kissing the earth with the last hint of passion before it goes into a deep sleep to regenerate its soul. There is a wisp of change tinging the air as I curl up in my organized and perfectly proper cocoon waiting for the winter. I peek through the silk strands at the gentle leaves of life dancing by. My body wants to dance with the last burst of passion in the golden afternoon. My soul is crying 'Dance Mariposa - It Is Time For Change."

We all need to listen when the Universe instructs us to dance with the life we are given. We have this day, tomorrow's song will be a different melody. I call to you today - Dance Mariposa!

2008
Spring in the Air
I have a wonderful office in Harrisburg that overlooks the Susquehanna River. I saw my first speedboat on the river this morning - Maybe not a speedboat, but a fisherman with the wind blowing in his hair - he was producing white water.

Spring is touching all of our hearts in Pennsylvania right now. I got my first flowers to plant on Saturday and am itching to get dirt under my fingernails. I love gardening - one of the few things I do besides work. It is a relaxation. Something that fellow workaholics understand. We only allow a few sainted moments before we plunge back into work.

What is your outlet? What makes your heart smile on a warm sunny day. Get out, be good to yourself - spend time with yourself and that special hobby that makes your heart sing. It will give you balance for the tough days.

Babies...
There are only a few things that will make me come to the line, mental fists drawn to fight for what is right. Babies and innocents being abused is one of them.

I just heard of a women who continued drugs throughout her pregnancy. The big day came and she had a tiny beautiful baby girl, who days later is still shaking with spasms and because she innocently was born a tiny addict.

What are we doing to our babies? What a cruel existence they must think it to be to spend their first few days looking at this new world they were thrust in, wondering why people hate them. They surely couldn't think it is love...

Sparks Business Institute/SCS Inc/SBIC Coaching/Counseling
(O) 814-689-2816 / 717-513-0011 (FX) 814-689-2184 (TF) 877-280-9102

Work/Life Balance, Executive, Leadership, Lifestyle and Vocational Coaching;
Corporate Training; and Business Turnaround Consulting