Lessons from a Girlfriend - THE GIRLFRIEND FACTOR Founder Joan Busick

Our role as a girlfriend isn't to just go see "Sex and the City" together. It is to have a real friendship which means helping each other through tough stuff and celebrating successes TOGETHER.

JOAN BUSICK, along with her girlfriend Michele Moore, decided to create a non-profit based on helping real women go after their dreams. THE GIRLFRIEND FACTOR was born in 2005 and now has dozens of women in college/training for new careers and reaching their goals!

Listen to the podcast for the details. Check out The Girlfriend Factor for ways you can get involved - like a "Go Girl! Camp," online shopping, starting a chapter in your city, etc.

As founder of The Girlfriend Factor, Joan emotes inspiration! Here are a few lessons I learned from this wonderful girlfriend:

* TAKE CHARGE - Joan runs her own CPA firm. It would have been much easier just to write a check to another organization and not bothered with starting a non-profit. Not Joan. She and girlfriend Michele decided they wanted to make a difference in women's lives and to do something about it. That inspires me!

* FRIENDSHIP IS IMPORTANT - The Girlfriend Factor doesn't just write a check then walk away. They stay involved. They befriend the grant recipients and cheer them on through school, interviews, challenges and successes. They become their girlfriends and get to know them on a very personal, supportive level. That inspires me too!

* THEY HAVE FUN! - The Girlfriend Factor believes that helping others doesn't have to involve a boring fundraiser dinner with a long-winded speaker. (We've all been at too many of those!) Funds are raised by hosting fun events like a pajama shopping night and 'Go Girl! Camps.' And, through the course of their events, they become better friends with the other women who are supportive of The Girlfriend Factor. They know how to have fun and make a difference in women's lives - at the same time!

* GET YOUR FRIENDS INVOLVED - To get The Girlfriend Factor started, Joan and Michele decided to enlist their girlfriends. They asked them to consider supporting The Girlfriend Factor. Of course, being girlfriends, they wanted to help and became part of the "Blind Faith Gang." Per Joan and Michele: "Without knowledge or understanding of our dream, they chose to be part of something bigger than themselves. For their generosity and faith, we will forever hold them as the foundation that created The Girlfriend Factor."

Do you want to befriend other women who need just a 'foot up' in making a change in their life? Can you be the kind of girlfriend that you'd love to have? Don't just watch a movie together or have dinner - make a difference! Check out The Girlfriend Factor and listen in to this inspiring interview with Joan. Thanks Joan! Thanks Girlfriends!