It's
never too late to dance When
Rosann
Levy
set up her booth in Hartford last year to sell copies of her book,
"It's Never too Late to Dance," a woman stopped briefly at her
booth and asked Levy why she should buy her book. The question proved more
rhetorical than inquisitive as the woman moved on to the next booth. Yet,
the question caught Levy by surprise. During
a recent talk at the Fairfield
Public Library,
Levy, a Norwalk resident, in a self-deprecating moment noted that she and
her husband of 51 years, "schlepped" - because that's what one
does when they are a first time, unknown author - 500 books to the
exhibition thinking hordes of people would rush to buy her book. They sold
18 copies. No doubt, those buyers were surprised by the honest,
informative memoir in which this 69-year-old mother of four and
grandmother of nine, chronicles a life of personal and professional
challenges. For, as Rosann likes to emphasize, "My story is really
the story of everyday people and everyday lives." That
is precisely why someone should buy this book, which is available on the
couple's website, www.theroartgroup.com. Now, in their "golden
years," Rosann and Arthur Levy, founded their own consulting group to
help clients with personal and professional endeavors. Their company is
the latest business venture in a nearly half century business career in
which the couple headed their own family-owned accounting firm, which they
subsequently sold to one of the top 25 accounting firms in the country so
they could retire and enjoy their "golden years." Well,
guess what? Retirement wasn't so golden and the everyday
"what-are-we-doing-today- honey" approach to filling their days
was not what they expected. A
trip to Cuba put fire under this couple's feet and became the impetus for
their opening Soho Dance in Manhattan in 2004. The venture lasted
two-and-a-half years when the couple decided to move to Connecticut to be
closer to their grand kids. Levy
describes her memoir as "the story of her journey...business
successes, depression, learning to cope with her son's cancer and how to
build a more meaningful life." Many
people can relate to her story because as she likes to say, her story is
everyone's story: It's about growing from a verbally abusing father;
learning to stay connected to husband and children, and finding personal
fulfillment in her own professional endeavors, that have including
positions in the tourist industry as well as founding the Family
Business Council of Greater New York,
a logical step since she and her husband hired two of their three sons to
join the family-owned accounting firm. Running a family business brings
with it an entire different dynamics, as the Stew
Leonard
families can attest. "It's
Never Too Late To Dance" is relatable on many levels. Small business
owners, especially family business owners can relate to the challenges
that the Levysfaced, both professionally and personally. Also, this is a
terrific book for women, in particular, women of Rosann Levy's generation.
She grew up on Long Island in the 50s, married her high school sweetheart
at 18 and became a mother at age 20. She did not let a failed attempt at
achieving a college degree prevent her from achieving success, first in
the tourist industry and then as a partner in her husband's accounting
firm. What
did she know about numbers? Not much, she admits, but she knew through her
experience in the tourist industry how to market a business. She knew how
to sell accounting services and how to network. And as she accomplished
all this, she learned how to face her personal demons--from time to time,
she suffered from panic attacks and agoraphobia. As she quotes her doctor
in her book: "Agoraphobies" feel safe at home...they refrain
from being in situations in which the feel threatened." Rosann
worked through her fears. "I embraced my fears," she said during
her talk. "It's about living now. The negativity weighs us down. How
we live our lives will decide our future. We can be whoever we
want...don't wait for crises to start. God knows what crises are out
there...You do what you have to do to get it done" Dance
has become a key component in the Levys' lives. They took dance lessons to
prepare for their trip to Cuba and subsequently opening their own dance
studio introduced them to a variety of dances. She begins each chapter of
her book with the description of a dance, which becomes the metaphor for
that chapter's message. While
co-owners of Sono Dance, the Levys were invited to dance on the Fox5
"The Morning Show WithMike
& Juliet."
To their surprise, Len
Goodman
and Bruno
Tonioli,
the judges from "Dancing with the Stars," critiqued their
performance. "You're
one saucy lady in the morning," Bruno said. While
Rosann may be saucy on the dance floor, her business acumen continues to
shine in a variety of endeavors, including her co-founding with Gene
D'Agostino,
ConnectMore, a Fairfield County networking organization that meets twice a
month with a lunch in Stamford and a dinner meeting in Fairfield. It's
next meeting will be Tuesday, March 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Butterfield 8, 112 Beford St., Stamford. Guest speaker, artist Jane
Pollak,
author of "Soul Proprietor: 101 Lessons from a Lifestyle
Entrepreneur" will discuss the topic "Seven Tips to Grow Your
Business That You Don't Hear Every Day." Her talk is described as an
abbreviated "boot camp" for business owners wanting a firm yet
gentle push to the net level. Register at www.meetup.com/coectimore-fairfield-country. In
the meantime, get a copy of Rosann's book. She, too, has a certain way of
giving you that little push to get you to the next level, personally or
professionally. |
© Copyright 2011 Rita Papazian All rights reserved.