By James Lomuscio
Though business success took center stage at the Westport Woman’s Club’s panel discussion tonight, politics shared the spotlight. 
Tonight’s panel discussion at the Westport Woman’s Club featured (l-r) Dottie Herman, Walter Levine, and Linda McMahon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com
Linda McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO who spent $40 million of her own money in an unsuccessful Republican run for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Richard Blumenthal last year, was one of the three business titans speaking.
Also present were entrepreneur and philanthropist Walter Levine of Fairfield, and Dottie Herman, CEO of Prudential/Douglas Elliman Real Estate in New York City. They spoke before a packed audience of mostly women entrepreneurs and executives who came to hear the talk titled, “The Art of the Sale.”
McMahon, Levine and Herman touted the importance of a positive attitude in selling your product, enthusiasm, knowing your audience and how to learn from failure and defeat to succeed next time.
“You have to learn from your mistakes and be resilient,” said McMahon, pointing out that she and her husband Vince McMahon had weathered bankruptcy early on only to rebound with WWE, now a global and publicly traded company.
“In sales, no doesn’t always mean no,” said Herman, adding that her real estate agents always try to root out what will close a sale.
Radio host Lisa Wexler, who emceed the event, took it as an opening to indirectly ask McMahon if she were entertaining another Senate run.
“Did you approach your candidacy the same way you approach sales, that maybe next time it will be yes?” asked Wexler.
“I was not afraid to lose,” responded McMahon, adding that she was already grounded in a career.
Following the talk, McMahon said another run in 2012 was possible.
“I’m keeping it open as an option,” she said. “When I decided that I would run for public office, I said that it was my time to give back.”
Giving back is the theme of Levine’s autobiographical book titled, “How Can I Help You? The Most Important Question in Business and in Life,” which was on sale at the Westport Woman’s Club.
Levine has launched 16 varied businesses in his career. They include beauty salons, a cosmetic company, video conferencing, a home and business security company—of which McMahon is a client – and development of a cancer drug,
He stressed that the real joy of business success is the positive effect it has on other people.
Levine said he began in business at age six when his father told him to earn his own money to go to the movies.
Levine, who grew up in a tenement in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, said he collected and cleaned old clothespins he found in alleys and sold them to women in the apartments “at three for a penny.”
“I not only had money to go to the movies, but enough to take all my friends,” he said.
Just $40MM? The Washington Post and generally most sources have it at $47MM. But what’s $7MM to a politician? Folding money.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/11/08/GR2010110807319.html?sid=ST2010110900458
Imagine if Habitat for Humanity (and other charities) received $47 MM and what could be done.
Yes, imagine if the politician spending their own funds had a (D) next to their name, happens all the time. I don’t think we would see you posting this. A politician spends this money because they have a large ego, sure;deep pockets; yes; and because they think that by spending the money to get elected, they could benefit the voters of CT by a sum much larger than the amount spent.
Ned Lamont spent his own money to try to win political office. Imagine what that money could have done?
It is disgusting how much is spent and resources wasted regardless of whether there is a (D), (R), or (I) next to the candidate’s name. I was pointing out the discrepancy in the amount reported and what the FEC has on file for dollars spent. And how it could have been spent with a charity.
I wish a candidate would say “I am giving 20% of my campaign funds to charity XYZ,” do it, and then every time they are interviewed they mention it instead of buying TV time or yard signs. I know it is thinking outside the box so I am not going to hold my breath. I offer to you Mr. Caponiti to suggest this to your candidate of choice. Who knows, they might like the idea.
I was simply responding to your assertion about Linda McMahon and trying to explain why politicians do this. If this had been a candidate of the other party, not only would the Washington Post not run the story, but it, too, would not have made it to the scroll on Westport News, just pointing out a simple hypocrasy. The amount of money that Linda McMahon’s company, and I am NOT a fan in any capacity, has generated among it’s sponsors, it’s performers, venues, concession sales, magazines, and all of the trickle down from this has done more to help charity through wealth creation than anything our current administration is doing. The best way to increase charity is to lay off the people that do the donating. That’s a whole ‘nother argument. Peace Matt
I asserted that a politician spent in excess of $47 MM on their campaign. If you click on the WP link, it listed campaign spend of both parties. That is my point (which I *think* you are in agreement with me), spending a ridiculous amount of money on a campaign that could be better spent elsewhere.