Think Big: Wasatch Woman Magazine

Founding Editor of Wasatch Woman Magazine, Barbara Vineyard
shares ways to make that connection.

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Barbara’s Story

Just over two years ago, Barbara Vineyard gave birth to her third child.
For the first time in her life, Barbara was planning to be a stay-at-home mom.

That proved to be more difficult than she anticipated, not because one of the world’s most challenging jobs was too tough, but because, to an overachiever like Barbara, it didn’t keep her busy enough.

So when a neighbor called and asked Barbara to help launch a new magazine, it almost seemed by fate.

Before the first issue was in circulation, “helping” as a “hobby” turned into a full partnership. A decision that surprised even Barbara. She’d never been involved in publishing of any kind.

Early in the process, the partners realized Barb’s ideas for “Wasatch Woman Magazine” were loftier than the original concept. She imagined a glossy publication full of stories that would inspire, teach, motivate, and bring women of all walks of life together.

That big idea proved to be too ambitious for the original contributor. So to accomplish her goals for the magazine, Barb had to take on more editorial responsibility and a bigger financial commitment.

But, with the help of a very supportive partner, she is surviving. Shortly after the release of the second edition, Barbara’s husband James became a full time member of the “Wasatch Woman” team.

Barbara has the pleasure of hearing from many readers, and the feed back assures her she is reaching her goal of reaching women across the Wasatch front.

Barbara’s Advice for Connecting with Other Women:

Reach Out

Connecting starts with reaching out. If you aren’t very social, start with women in your neighborhood or at work. Then start reaching out to those outside your home and work boundaries. This is what makes the Internet so fabulous. You can send an e-mail to someone you’ve read about or heard about and it takes hardly any time. Just today I received an e-mail from a woman who heard about the magazine. She told me how a quote in an article I wrote contained the exact encouragement she needed. I was able to connect with her because I “opened up” and she connected with me because she “reached out.”

Open Up

You can’t help other women or receive the help you need without opening up. Connections deepen when we share something about ourselves. Suddenly we find that there are women out there with the advice or encouragement we need. And there are women out there who need our experiences and wisdom to get them through what they are currently facing.

Get Involved

This is the “take action” part of connecting. As you get better at reaching out and opening up, you’ll find that the next step is getting involved in networking or social or school or religious groups. This takes your connection with women to the next level. Suddenly, you aren’t only talking to each other but you’re working together to meet a goal or realize a dream.

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