Ladies Who Launch Review - Day Two - Martha Beck, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Letarte Swimwear and Elizabeth Lesser

I was excited to start Day Two of the Ladies Who Launch Dream It! Launch It! Live It! Global Conference for Women Entrepreneurs at 82 Mercer.

The reason for the excitement was for the first speaker, Martha Beck.
Every month, I look forward to reading Martha's monthly column in O, The Oprah Magazine. During her interview with Victoria Colligan (on the left), I found Martha to be funny, sassy and smart. She led us in some exercises to gauge whether a path is appropriate for us by listening to our bodies. It is all about pleasure, passion and purpose.

Next up was Anne Beiler of Auntie Anne's Pretzels pictured on the right in this photo.She started out selling pretzels at a farmer's market and a few years ago, sold her company which consists of over 1000 locations worldwide. For Anne, it is about purpose, product and people. Also, happiness can be bought. Joy cannot.

The body is nowhere near bikini-wearing season, but I was looking forward to the next speaker, Michelle Letarte Ross of Letarte Swimwear.

She brought along some beautiful bikinis and tunics. Letarte started with an idea by her and her windsurfing championship sister in Maui. She has two retail stores and the rest of her business is wholesale.

Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of The Omega Institute was next.I understand her book, Broken Open is amazing and will definitely be picking it up soon. I got a lot out of her talk. I can "be bitter or be reborn."

I left this two-day conference inspired. Inspired by all of the great women I met and of all of the intelligence and creativity and drive in that room.

I only have one life and I need to stop procrastinating, get off my ass and live the best life I can.

"Man cannot remake himself without suffering,
for he is both the marble and the sculptor."
- Dr. Alexis Carrel