Gift biz on wrapped a very special episode.
Speaker:Number 21,
Speaker:You should remember the lady I wanted women to have the
Speaker:vote. It was the most revolutionary Thought,
Speaker:Hey, this is John Lee Dumas of entrepreneur on fire,
Speaker:and you're listening to the gift of biz unwrapped.
Speaker:And now it's time to light it up.
Speaker:Welcome to gift biz,
Speaker:unwrapped your source for industry specific insights and advice to develop
Speaker:and grow your business.
Speaker:And now here's your host,
Speaker:Sue Monheit I'm Sue and welcome to the biz unwrapped podcast.
Speaker:Whether you own a brick and mortar store sell online or
Speaker:are just getting started,
Speaker:you'll discover new insight to gain traction and to grow your
Speaker:business. And today we have a very,
Speaker:very special episode,
Speaker:and I'm not even going to tell you what it is.
Speaker:Just listen on.
Speaker:It is my true honor to introduce to you today,
Speaker:Rebecca Bloomfield,
Speaker:Rebecca is a partner in Jerry S Pearlstein insurance limited.
Speaker:The agency is unique in a few ways.
Speaker:First of all,
Speaker:Rebecca and Jerry are partners in more ways than one they're
Speaker:married. Secondly,
Speaker:the agency was formed almost 14 years ago to provide health
Speaker:life long-term care and disability insurance,
Speaker:to people who don't work for a company,
Speaker:providing those benefits.
Speaker:Their mission is to be the benefits help desk for people
Speaker:who have none today,
Speaker:their clients are entrepreneurs and independent contractors.
Speaker:They're the people most impacted by the affordable care act.
Speaker:Rebecca and Jerry have become experts in helping hundreds to get
Speaker:the most out of the benefits that the current act now
Speaker:offers. Finally,
Speaker:Rebecca holds a national certification in long-term care.
Speaker:It's clear to her that the number of boomers and the
Speaker:health care available to them represents a revolutionary challenge in how
Speaker:to finance a life that can last a hundred years or
Speaker:more. It takes knowing who pays for what in long-term care
Speaker:and planning on how to provide a cashflow from 35 to
Speaker:105. That word revolutionary brings us to a unique version of
Speaker:the program today.
Speaker:Rebecca Bloomfield is also an actor and playwright who has created
Speaker:works based on the lives of women in history.
Speaker:Her play the revolutionary,
Speaker:Mrs. Adams toured the United States and the United Kingdom as
Speaker:Abigail Adams.
Speaker:She performed at the white house and the Ford Johnson and
Speaker:Hoover presidential libraries.
Speaker:I've seen one of Rebecca's portrayals And it is powerful and
Speaker:inspirational. I am so honored that she's willing to share with
Speaker:us today too often.
Speaker:The women who supported the founding of our country are overlooked.
Speaker:Many of us today are entrepreneurs creating businesses and not for
Speaker:profits. Imagine trying to create an entire country.
Speaker:So today I proudly welcome to the program,
Speaker:the first woman to live in the white house,
Speaker:former first lady,
Speaker:Abigail Adams,
Speaker:welcome to the show Mrs.
Speaker:Adams, Good day to you,
Speaker:mistress Monheit.
Speaker:I understand our conversation and will be from the perspective of
Speaker:woman as entrepreneur Bravo.
Speaker:It is rarely,
Speaker:and I recognize that the founders of our country,
Speaker:why not supported in that endeavor by noble book or wealth?
Speaker:No. Were they all men of means like trader John Hancock
Speaker:or the plantation owners of the south?
Speaker:No, indeed.
Speaker:They will working men.
Speaker:And if they were meeting and not working,
Speaker:it was the industry ingenuity and the courage of their wives
Speaker:who ran the farms and shops that kept their families provided.
Speaker:And that Texas paid.
Speaker:Yeah. As our listeners know Mrs.
Speaker:Adams, we align the conversation around the life of a motivational
Speaker:candle. The light shines on you while you share your stories
Speaker:and experiences.
Speaker:So Mrs.
Speaker:Adams, shall we light it up?
Speaker:Tell us,
Speaker:please, what color is your candle?
Speaker:Oh, dear Carla.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:I made my own candles.
Speaker:The virtue of a candle was not in its color,
Speaker:but whether it could cast its light for a long period
Speaker:of time,
Speaker:how cleanly and clearly it burned.
Speaker:And without smoke,
Speaker:I believe this perhaps being constant and being clear and not
Speaker:giving smoke out is probably inspiration for what a person should
Speaker:be. And,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:it brings us back because we don't really think about candles
Speaker:of yesteryear.
Speaker:We think about candles of today.
Speaker:So that's a wonderful description to let us understand the life.
Speaker:And the times that you lived in,
Speaker:what's the motivational quote on your candle.
Speaker:Ah, the quote on my candle,
Speaker:where you see the year I was born,
Speaker:there was a poem written by a poet named James Thompson.
Speaker:He wrote a poem called the seasons and my quote would
Speaker:come from that poem.
Speaker:And my father was a congregationalist minister,
Speaker:William Smith,
Speaker:first Harish,
Speaker:Weymouth colony of Massachusetts.
Speaker:And he spoke out of Ecclesiastes days often for everything there
Speaker:is a season,
Speaker:but when Mr.
Speaker:Thompson wrote of the seasons,
Speaker:he said,
Speaker:one must expect seasons of earthly sadness.
Speaker:And here is my quote in the depths of grief.
Speaker:Other seeds of hope in the depths of grief are the
Speaker:seeds of hope.
Speaker:And that has been my inspiration since I was a child.
Speaker:And what does that mean to you?
Speaker:Oh, that was times in my life.
Speaker:Well, one didn't know what was coming forward.
Speaker:And I had to believe that by a constancy,
Speaker:by believing that we were doing well and that I was
Speaker:in the struggle,
Speaker:well, that things would come round.
Speaker:Right. And they did,
Speaker:for the most part they did Because you listened to your
Speaker:inspirational quote.
Speaker:Yes. In the depths of grief are the seeds of hope.
Speaker:This is Adams.
Speaker:Let's go back to the beginning.
Speaker:Tell us the story of how you got the inspiration that
Speaker:led you to support the revolutionary call.
Speaker:Oh, I don't know that it was inspiration,
Speaker:more education.
Speaker:And it was in the manner of being inspired by Mr.
Speaker:Thompson's quote.
Speaker:You see,
Speaker:I was not sent to any school.
Speaker:My sisters went four miles away to the nearest school school,
Speaker:but I was considered too frail and I had to stay
Speaker:home. And then my son was my reading and writing at
Speaker:my mother's kitchen table.
Speaker:I was in such grief about that.
Speaker:But once I learned to read my fathers and grandfathers opened
Speaker:their libraries to me,
Speaker:it was a world.
Speaker:Not usually present it to a young woman,
Speaker:history, geography,
Speaker:philosophy pamphlets from all manner of reformers.
Speaker:I read with a gentlemen of the day we're reading.
Speaker:And often when I would bring tea to the men in
Speaker:the library,
Speaker:I would find a small corner to sit and listen to
Speaker:their debates.
Speaker:I learned so much,
Speaker:they were so bright,
Speaker:including one John Adam.
Speaker:So not only was I inspired to join the revolution,
Speaker:but I was given a partner in that revolutionary pursuit,
Speaker:my dearest friend,
Speaker:John Adams.
Speaker:So really you not being able to go to school with
Speaker:your siblings really led to actually a much better education.
Speaker:You're getting the value from the history books.
Speaker:And then of course,
Speaker:meeting your spouse.
Speaker:Yes. Yes.
Speaker:Most definitely.
Speaker:So gift biz listeners,
Speaker:if ever you're feeling like you're in a situation where you
Speaker:are not being,
Speaker:not proving your skills,
Speaker:but you know that they're there or someone possibly has told
Speaker:you something that was negative that you knew not to be
Speaker:true. Don't necessarily listen to that.
Speaker:Take advantage of what you have in front of you to
Speaker:overcome Mrs.
Speaker:Adams along the way.
Speaker:I am sure there were struggles your road.
Speaker:Wasn't always easy.
Speaker:That is for sure.
Speaker:Take us to a challenging time.
Speaker:What happened and how did you overcome October,
Speaker:1700 75.
Speaker:John was at the second continental Congress.
Speaker:I had wished to go to Philadelphia to be upon the
Speaker:stage of action there myself.
Speaker:But I was the one who had to stay behind and
Speaker:make sure that the farm supported myself and the four children.
Speaker:And we had enough crops to sell,
Speaker:to pay the taxes.
Speaker:And so I was at home when it dysentery epidemic spread
Speaker:through our area,
Speaker:my mother nursed me and the children until I could rise
Speaker:from my bed.
Speaker:And then she took to her.
Speaker:She died October 1st and I began what I called my
Speaker:more bit debate.
Speaker:I was ill stew and weak in mind and heart.
Speaker:And my mother had been such a strong presence.
Speaker:The wife of a minister,
Speaker:a perfect Christian.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:when she died,
Speaker:she was so praised that the words are buried in the
Speaker:ground because they could not fit them on the tombstone.
Speaker:But here I was a woman who did not want to
Speaker:be loyal to a husband king,
Speaker:and God did not wish to bend knee in that way.
Speaker:Who wish to study politics,
Speaker:read rebellion.
Speaker:Now the preachers of the times that a woman's body gives
Speaker:purpose to her life,
Speaker:but surely God had given me my mind quick.
Speaker:Where was I to be in this debate?
Speaker:When, on until March of 1776,
Speaker:when Mr.
Speaker:Adams returned home from a break in the proceedings at the
Speaker:Congress, he said,
Speaker:I shown as stateswoman as well as farmer S.
Speaker:And he thought my maxims of state,
Speaker:very apropos.
Speaker:He called me the best of all wives.
Speaker:And so I began to send him ideas for laws in
Speaker:the new country that we would propose.
Speaker:And I actually sent him a letter that said in the
Speaker:new code of laws,
Speaker:which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make
Speaker:I desire.
Speaker:You should remember the ladies.
Speaker:I wanted women to have the vote.
Speaker:You see,
Speaker:it was the most revolutionary thought.
Speaker:And he sounded receptive to that.
Speaker:Oh No.
Speaker:He said that it would bring men under the despotism of
Speaker:the petty coat.
Speaker:Can you imagine?
Speaker:No, I can't imagine.
Speaker:But it was True that two of the states did give
Speaker:women the vote under the articles of Confederation.
Speaker:Unfortunately, they took it back in 1787 when the new constitution
Speaker:came about,
Speaker:But you were still sending him letters of things that you
Speaker:felt were important of the day.
Speaker:And for the most part he was listening.
Speaker:Oh yes.
Speaker:And then he sent George Washington to visit me.
Speaker:I dined with Dr.
Speaker:Benjamin Franklin.
Speaker:My husband was not quiet in pride of his wife.
Speaker:And it pleased me greatly.
Speaker:Do you think you would have been able to accomplish everything
Speaker:you did without having that support?
Speaker:No. No,
Speaker:not at all.
Speaker:And not just John's you see,
Speaker:I wrote letters,
Speaker:letters love most important connection.
Speaker:I had two wonderful sisters and I could write to them
Speaker:about my loneliness when John was gone and,
Speaker:and practical matters in the house about what to do about
Speaker:a sick cow or a sick child.
Speaker:And I had a friend mercy Otis Warren.
Speaker:She was quite a learned lady corresponding often with women in
Speaker:England who wish the vote for women there.
Speaker:And we debated often about what our new country would look
Speaker:like. She wrote a history of the colony of Massachusetts,
Speaker:and I learned so many interesting things from the copies of
Speaker:documents that she sent me.
Speaker:She was a wonderful friend and let my mind be exercised.
Speaker:Even after a long day of my body,
Speaker:working hard share With us Mrs.
Speaker:Adams, some of the events that made a difference in how
Speaker:you supported the revolution and perhaps change the way you made
Speaker:a difference.
Speaker:When independence was declared July 4th,
Speaker:1,776, I believe John would return home to brand tree,
Speaker:Massachusetts to be lawyer farmer husband.
Speaker:Again, instead just three weeks later,
Speaker:three weeks after his return,
Speaker:Congress decided they needed a minister at the court of France.
Speaker:And John Adams Esquire was elected.
Speaker:He left and took my eldest son only 11 with him.
Speaker:And now let us was so hard to get through.
Speaker:They were lost,
Speaker:they were stolen.
Speaker:They sank in ships.
Speaker:I did not have that connection with my support and my
Speaker:husband that I had.
Speaker:And I became angry.
Speaker:I chastised him for abusing me.
Speaker:So by not writing back to me.
Speaker:And he wrote to me that if I continue to write
Speaker:in that manner,
Speaker:he would see striking to me at all.
Speaker:He said it killed him.
Speaker:And so I had to find a way to speak my
Speaker:mind, to make my connections,
Speaker:to get my support.
Speaker:I, myself,
Speaker:I became unashamed to write to members of the Congress.
Speaker:I was more outspoken.
Speaker:I wrote that after letter,
Speaker:when I had to,
Speaker:I was more persistent in my ideas of the directions we
Speaker:had to go.
Speaker:And I was more support people that I heard had joined
Speaker:us. I wrote,
Speaker:thank you letters.
Speaker:And I wrote chastising letters.
Speaker:I became an entity in myself in a way I had
Speaker:never thought possible years later when I was first lady,
Speaker:the wife of the president,
Speaker:it came to the attention of the press that I continued
Speaker:this practice.
Speaker:And they called me Madam president.
Speaker:And not kindly neither.
Speaker:Where did you get that?
Speaker:Bravery and courage to speak out so strongly when your sole
Speaker:supporter was no longer able to communicate with you?
Speaker:It's an interesting question too.
Speaker:I really don't know.
Speaker:I had always been outspoken when I was 17 and Mr.
Speaker:Adams and I would caught it and he was a young
Speaker:lawyer riding the circuit.
Speaker:And we wrote letters.
Speaker:I wrote to him that I thought men and women were
Speaker:cast of the same mold that they both had an equal
Speaker:quantity of steel that the same cause would provoke the same
Speaker:effect in books.
Speaker:So even when I was 16,
Speaker:I had these ideas.
Speaker:And when I thought I had an ear was not ever
Speaker:to expressing myself,
Speaker:I have to be the devil in me.
Speaker:Don't you think I venture to say,
Speaker:not based on how it turned out,
Speaker:but a question for you did other women of the time
Speaker:also view the same way you did and just were too
Speaker:fearful to voice it?
Speaker:Well, I believe so women that I know and who came
Speaker:to talk to me often,
Speaker:did it quietly and often came for tea rather than even
Speaker:putting their thoughts down on paper.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:we were not so far away in Massachusetts of witch trials
Speaker:and I would of,
Speaker:of women were not treated very well.
Speaker:And in,
Speaker:besides being in danger,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:that speaking against the king was treason and that men and
Speaker:women could be hung for that reason.
Speaker:And as for women expressing their opinion,
Speaker:I believe it was dangerous to do so Truly it had
Speaker:to be coming from the heart and the soul.
Speaker:Then you were committed that this is what needed to be
Speaker:done because you did put yourself highly at risk.
Speaker:Yes, I did.
Speaker:I even made bullets at my kitchen table and melted down
Speaker:my pewter and poured molds.
Speaker:And we did it because we believed that the country needed
Speaker:to exist where all men and women were furry and not
Speaker:under the thumb of born to royalty.
Speaker:Well, I know that not every colonist supported the revolution and
Speaker:those that did had to keep the faith for a very
Speaker:long time.
Speaker:How did you get people to stay loyal to the struggle?
Speaker:As I said,
Speaker:it was always through letters.
Speaker:Thank you.
Speaker:Letters, admonition letters.
Speaker:I found a way,
Speaker:even in an admonition to somebody to bolster them,
Speaker:to keep them going.
Speaker:And I believe that the fact that I was on farm
Speaker:arrest in a saltbox cottage at the foot of the hill,
Speaker:just as they were not a grand lady,
Speaker:that my words and my actions meant something as an example,
Speaker:to keep them in the struggle.
Speaker:God bless them all.
Speaker:Yes, God bless them all.
Speaker:And in today's language,
Speaker:we would use the term credibility that because you were very
Speaker:much like them,
Speaker:they could relate to you and you provided a lot of
Speaker:credibility, which then allowed people to follow you because they believed
Speaker:in you and they trusted you because you were very much
Speaker:like them.
Speaker:Yes, I believe that is so good.
Speaker:Word, credibility Adams.
Speaker:We are going to move on to the reflection section of
Speaker:our chat today.
Speaker:What is one natural trait that you have that has helped
Speaker:you to succeed?
Speaker:Hm. I love to learn and I believe in learning,
Speaker:there is always inspiration to compare,
Speaker:to have a new perspective brought forward.
Speaker:And that is rejuvenating to me,
Speaker:even in my older life to read,
Speaker:to learn something new,
Speaker:to meet someone new gives me new life.
Speaker:And That all started way back.
Speaker:When you were little reading from the library at your parents'
Speaker:house. Yes,
Speaker:There, I was hiding from my mother up in a tree,
Speaker:12 years old,
Speaker:Abigail Young women do not climb trees.
Speaker:She would say,
Speaker:and I would have to come in and do some hateful
Speaker:Chihuahua, but yes,
Speaker:it started back then,
Speaker:What tool or type of activity do you do that keeps
Speaker:you productive or create balance in your life?
Speaker:I write,
Speaker:I do not write a journal as such some women that
Speaker:I knew mercy Otis Warren keeps a fine journal,
Speaker:which she can access and share,
Speaker:but I write letters,
Speaker:letters my most constant link to the rest of the world.
Speaker:One day when I was traveling not far within 40 miles
Speaker:of branch tree,
Speaker:I visited the house of a woman that I had corresponded
Speaker:with. And she had a special room with a small desk,
Speaker:a room of her own in which she could write.
Speaker:I envied her all my days because I often had to
Speaker:write at my kitchen table or huddled close to the fire,
Speaker:but writing those letters gives me connection.
Speaker:And that is what I love to do the best Writing.
Speaker:And then of course,
Speaker:reading, you've talked about how valuable books are to you.
Speaker:I'm very curious.
Speaker:Is there one particular book that you've read that you think
Speaker:has impacted you the most After the declaration of independence was
Speaker:signed? I followed John to Europe.
Speaker:I had never been more than 40 miles from the society
Speaker:of brand tree and that I was in the courts of
Speaker:Kings and Queens.
Speaker:And we were there until the new constitution was written in
Speaker:the first election for the United States of America was held.
Speaker:And we came back and I was thrilled.
Speaker:Instill am thrilled to read the constitution of the United States
Speaker:of America,
Speaker:the preamble,
Speaker:so wonderful to come from the people themselves to know that
Speaker:our highest ideal,
Speaker:although we may not always rise to it is for the
Speaker:common defense and the common wealth,
Speaker:health, happiness of the people themselves.
Speaker:I say that all people on July four,
Speaker:where John said there should be parades and fireworks and that
Speaker:there are,
Speaker:but you should pull out a copy of that constitution.
Speaker:You should read it.
Speaker:You should see what the founders had in mind to establish
Speaker:and keep a wonderful country of the people by the people
Speaker:and for the people.
Speaker:Very Powerful.
Speaker:And I will challenge all of our listeners today.
Speaker:That just as you're listening to us,
Speaker:I bet you that constitution is on an audio book right
Speaker:now. I've teamed up with audible for you all,
Speaker:to be able to read the constitution or any other book
Speaker:you would choose for free.
Speaker:All you need to do is go to gift biz,
Speaker:book.com and make a selection Mrs.
Speaker:Adams, we're winding down into our final minutes now,
Speaker:and I want to give you a special gift.
Speaker:I'd like to present you with a virtual gift.
Speaker:It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future.
Speaker:This is your dream or goal of almost unreachable Heights that
Speaker:you'd wish to obtain.
Speaker:Please accept this gift and open it in our presence.
Speaker:What is inside?
Speaker:Oh, inside is the boat for women inside is our ability
Speaker:to our country and our lives without vote,
Speaker:perhaps even to hold office ourselves and be in those rooms
Speaker:where the decisions that affect the lives of the citizens made
Speaker:that would be the greatest gift of all That would be.
Speaker:And I'd like to give you the gift of being able
Speaker:to foresee in the future and having that come true.
Speaker:Mrs. Adams,
Speaker:thank you so much.
Speaker:Your conversation today has been so informative and so interesting for
Speaker:the women entrepreneurs of today.
Speaker:I'd like you to sit back for just a second and
Speaker:I'm going to jump over to Rebecca.
Speaker:Now, Rebecca,
Speaker:I'd like to do the same thing with you.
Speaker:I'd like to present you with a virtual gift.
Speaker:It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future.
Speaker:This is your dream or goal of almost unreachable Heights that
Speaker:you'd wished to obtain.
Speaker:Please accept this gift and open it in our presence.
Speaker:What is inside your box?
Speaker:Well first,
Speaker:thank you very much for the gift of being able to
Speaker:bring Mrs.
Speaker:Adams to you.
Speaker:It is such a joy to me,
Speaker:always. She has been such an inspiration in my life and
Speaker:the gift that I would look for in the box.
Speaker:Although women have the vote and they can run for office.
Speaker:I'm afraid that some attitudes still are in place where women
Speaker:don't make decisions for themselves in a financial way that they
Speaker:really have the power and should take the responsibility to do
Speaker:so. I would have in that box,
Speaker:the gift of a life insurance policy that includes payment for
Speaker:longterm care for every woman,
Speaker:so that when she is living her long and wonderful life,
Speaker:she has her own independent means.
Speaker:And at the end of her life,
Speaker:when she's taken care of everyone else,
Speaker:she has the means to take care of herself.
Speaker:I've said before,
Speaker:I think it's a revolution that we're seeing in this country
Speaker:with people so long lived.
Speaker:It's a situation,
Speaker:a challenge for us to meet.
Speaker:And I would wish that women would begin to take the
Speaker:step to meet that challenge.
Speaker:And you are working on that goal with your business every
Speaker:day, Every day.
Speaker:That's exactly what we're doing.
Speaker:Rebecca, How could our listeners get in touch with you?
Speaker:We do have a website,
Speaker:J Perlstein,
Speaker:ltd.com. You can reach me at our Bloomfield at J Pearlstein,
Speaker:ltd.com and (847) 362-8888.
Speaker:I'd love the conversation And gift biz listeners.
Speaker:As you know,
Speaker:you can jump over to gift biz on wrap.com
Speaker:where you'll find the show notes page,
Speaker:and I will be sharing with you point of all of
Speaker:the specific information Mrs.
Speaker:Adams has been talking with us about today.
Speaker:Thank you so much Mrs.
Speaker:Adams and Rebecca,
Speaker:for all the valuable information,
Speaker:your journey and the insights that you've shared.
Speaker:And may your candles Learn how to work smarter while developing
Speaker:and growing your business.
Speaker:Download our guide called 25 free tools to enhance your business
Speaker:and life.
Speaker:It's our gift to you and available@giftbizonrap.com
Speaker:slash tools.
Speaker:Thanks for listening and be sure to join us for the
Speaker:next episode.
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Speaker:Would you like to be on the show or do you
Speaker:know someone who can provide valuable insight from their experiences?
Speaker:If so,
Speaker:we'd love to hear from you.
Speaker:All you need to do is submit a form for consideration.
Speaker:You can access the form@giftbizonunwrappeddotcomforwardslashguestdebtsisunwrapped.com