When I graduated from High School I had to make some serious choices on my next steps …. Do I go on to University of Michigan or do I take on a trade? Thinking about the world of beauty, I choose to wait before moving into the college experience and take on a trade. I was good at design work and color and decided to get my license as a stylist. I knew, in order to achieve notoriety, I would have to learn, practice and be mentored by some of the best in the industry. Long story short, I entered a contest after completing my education competing with some of the best stylists in Detroit. I won first prize in styling and my trophy represented the Tri-State of Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. WOW what a feeling. Winning became a fun sport and achieving created a worthwhile focus.
After moving to the East Coast in 1970, I decided to take on another add on to my profession and invested $50 only to grow my career collectively into a $10M organization over the next 13 years. The Cosmetic industry was growing as women needed to find jobs and work. The economy was suffering from a downturn and one pay check was not cutting it for the families. In achieving these goals, we won Pink Cadillacs over the next 12 years. It was amazing. I placed #1 in the Nation in recruiting and was written up in the local newspaper. Crazy as it all was, we were a team that couldn’t be stopped.
In 1983 after a difficult divorce, I left the styling profession and took on a position with an International Cosmetic Company. Basically, running the Northeast division. This was an amazing experience and truly worth every minute. I started to see how business was measured behind the scenes and found this knowledge valuable. The process was built for growth and grow we did.
In 1986, because of my desire to assist others in growing, I investigated Leadership Courses that could be taught to others and invested everything I had into a franchise with LMI International, the largest training company in the world. I achieved certification with LMI and began a 13 year adventure learning about hundreds of companies and how they operated. I learned that if we could measure it we could manage it. At that time, most leadership managed by observation not as much by measurement. My company, FILI LLC, had the honor of working with Scientists, Banks, Auto Industry, USPS, Norton Company, Cambridge Bio Science, Hewlett Packard, IT and so many more. My desire to learn was ignited to new heights and awareness about how business is built and increased.
In 2000, I moved to Boston MA and that’s where I met my husband who was in the financial industry. With all the training and experience I had acquired over the last 37 years, it was easy to see the lack of understanding how to manage by measurement was throughout his industry. The Financial Industry led with products rather than with the relationship with the people first. I challenged my husband by saying, "I will show you how to triple your income in the next 18 months." And so, over the next 18 months I assisted him in not just tripling his income, but QUADRUPLING it! In addition, he reduced his hours from 60 to 40 per week as well as reduced his travel time from 60,000 miles per year to 8,000 miles per year. It was all so exciting!
At this point we knew we would work well together. Ted took on a new product in this industry and became expert in designing it for tax free retirement income. The average closing ratio in the industry with this product was 6 – 8 months. We were able to reduce this process to a 21 day learning system and called it The Knowles System. Knowles is a family name from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
We perfected the learning system for consumers allowing them the dignity to make their own choices. We were hired by other Financial firms throughout the USA and traveled together teaching our systems. Ted built the Knowles Software System for the client to visually see how their money could grow with these products. The Software was tested and is certified.
It was in or about 2010 when we received a call from a known personality. He asked about our Tax Free Retirement Insurance system and wanted to hear more. We invited he and his wife to participate, through a webinar for the next few weeks so he could fully understand how we work. Our practices fit into his philosophy of educating the consumer on how money works. He began speaking about us sending people to our website to learn more.
Over the next 4 years we perfected our working relationship and gained the notoriety for our brand and process. It was in 2014 when we heard about Commercial Lending and how the client could gain higher interest rates than traditional banks were giving. Consequently, we began doing our due diligence in understanding this industry that has been active for over 90 years. Some call this “Hard Money Lending."
My career led me into attaining certification as Leadership Coach through Leadership Management Institute. This journey has been one of continuous growth through learning. While building structured learning systems for measurable results with individuals as well as corporations, my real passion has always been centered in empowering people with knowledge for achieving their fullest potential.
This passion led me to an unexpected chapter in my life. After the 2008 financial crisis businesses were suffering, banks weren’t lending, retirement savings weren’t growing. In our pursuit of supporting businesses in their growth as well as our clients futures, we were pursued by companies who were dedicated in growing profits for themselves and their clients. Woodbridge gave us the tools we leaned on to educate others about the Commercial Lending practices. The knowledge systems are dedicated to putting people first, process second and product third. We called this system, the 3 P’s to success. Armed with the knowledge imparted by Woodbridge, I embarked on a mission to build a comprehensive educational process that would assist individuals on how to comprehend the industry's complexities. They learned more about how to create and how to make informed decisions about their financial futures.
In the development of the learning systems, I connected with dynamic individuals who collaborated with our company to establish essential systems, including CRM tools, web platforms, communication processes, and more. Together, we worked tirelessly to provide comprehensive resources for those seeking education and evaluation of their financial paths. Our intent was clear: to guide individuals toward making informed decisions that aligned with their goals and aspirations.
Through the years, I welcomed independent salespeople keen on learning from Woodbridge and offering their insights to their own networks. My background became an asset embraced by these individuals and their ventures.
In addition to my coaching journey, we ventured into a personal project that held great significance for Ted and me. We decided to purchase a home in Florida, despite its need for extensive renovations. In partnership with a close friend, we embarked on a transformative journey, completely renovating the house to give it a fresh and inviting look. This project, began in March of 2017 and we finished in December 2017.
However, life took an unexpected turn when Ted's health declined. In August of 2017, he faced a 37-day hospitalization, a challenging period during which my focus shifted between his recovery and my commitment to my team and clients. The weight of countless decisions regarding the house added another layer of complexity, yet through the grace of God, I was able to remain steadfast in my dedication to all three aspects in my life.
With resilience and determination, we persevered. Despite the challenges, we managed to bring the renovation project to completion. Ted's recovery was ongoing, but with his healing in progress, I organized the transition to our home in Florida. Amidst his recovery journey, I oversaw the logistics of moving, ensuring that the transition was as smooth as possible. On December 1, 2017, with Ted still on the mend, we moved into our home.
Personal challenges unexpectedly arose during this journey, including Ted's illness and the subsequent Chapter 11 reorganization of the Woodbridge Companies. This unforeseen turn of events prompted a rapid shift, during which my team and I were confronted with uncertainty and confusion. Despite the challenges, we resolved to navigate this complexity with integrity and openness.
We immediately engaged legal counsel to untangle the situation and provide clarity. Each week, we updated our network with insights from our attorney's analysis, aiming to alleviate the stress and uncertainty surrounding the circumstances. This journey was undoubtedly daunting, and it remains one of the most challenging experiences I've encountered.
To support the SEC in their discovery of how Woodbridge ran their business Ted and I proactively offered our help to the SEC, offering our assistance to ensure justice prevailed. While this decision led to the dissolution of our business accounts, we stood resolute in our commitment to the truth. Unfortunately, this stance inadvertently cast us as well as 310 other companies in an unfavorable light in the eyes of some media outlets.
Yet, in the grand scheme of things, this incident has not defined my journey. As I read once, 'News' is often sensationalized, and my experience was no exception. Instead of allowing this situation to overshadow my true purpose, I continued to serve my clients and those seeking guidance.
This chapter also led to a critical revelation—the importance of advocating for our own interests, staying informed, and maintaining our principles. Today, I continue to support the empowering of others, drawing strength from what I've learned, and embracing each opportunity making a positive impact.
I am incredibly grateful for my team's unwavering dedication throughout this challenging period, and I remain steadfast in my mission to inspire growth, resilience, and positivity in all aspects of life.
Ted died May 23, 2019.
So, as I enter the next chapter of my life, I invite you to join me in the conversation of re-inventing one’s self. Yes, for some reason, I just can’t stop sharing what I’ve learned. I pop up and then get crushed and then pop up again and again.
The power of belief is in the knowing. I have met so many people in my lifetime who have great artistic talents as well as skills that are second to none, but do not know how to get these talents to work for them. In realizing this, my gift has developed into seeing beyond where they are and elevating them to their next levels of successes. Raising the bar….hitting a new high-water mark.
This website is an invitation to you to investigate new possibilities and new beginnings and possibly, new attitudes. It is unfair of me to keep the secrets to successes hidden. I have been blessed by so many teachers and life’s pain, to say I haven’t learned. I have learned and I want to share my learning with YOU!
This website is the beginning of a promise I made to myself many years ago. To consult, support, build, assist, elevate and create simplicity and growth with timelines and target dates. To manage self and talent with a clearly define destination of a worthwhile objective. This in itself is an art form and only with your permission, you will fly as high as you want.
So often we want to know our next steps before we’ve created “What we want.” The steps are laid out as the process grows along with the product and people.
In sharing my gift, there are several entrepreneurs who have gone through my “Project Magic Series” only to see their own blind spots. It is all so exciting for them and me to see their wisdom, attitudes and hopeful new beginnings open to new possibilities they are creating. Then we organize and stabilize and realize the stairway up.
I call all this “Magic”. There is a powerful part of my work that creates amazing positive energy and attracts to it, like a magnet, a force that multiplies and elevates the artist or talent to heights never thought possible.
