Mom Corps' Blog - Making Work Work!

How and Why Women Launch

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:02:00 -0500

It's been proven that women launch businesses much different from their male counterparts and oftentimes for very different reasons. Call it unconventional, but women across the country are proving that it's okay to launch in the feminine way. What's been discovered is that:

Women don't want to sacrifice their desires for financial success. Women launch businesses first and foremost to enjoy a better lifestyle. They also want to express their creativity and enjoy the process of launching in whatever manifestation that means.

Networking comes natural to women. They're constantly talking and meeting new people. They enjoy making connections. Relationships are a priority for women and they're great at using those relationships to help move their ideas forward. Women rely on their connections to get information, seek advice and to have social interaction.

Women become emotionally attached to their creative projects. In other words, they fall in love with their ideas and making them happen. Similar to caring for children, women nature and tenderly care for their projects. They are extremely careful and guarded and find it difficult to give away equity in their businesses. Women find passionate personal fulfillment in their ideas and define themselves through their ideas.

Women do not typically invest time and energy into a project unless they have passion. Likewise, they are not willing to climb the corporate ladder for the promise of money or prestige. Many times women do not want to grow their business because they want to maintain balance and happiness in their lives and extreme growth can negatively impact this balance. In fact, many women list money or financial gain last on their priorities for starting their own business.

Multi-tasking is a women's secret weapon. Because women tend to take on many things and are time constrained, they are completely comfortable and efficient at juggling the responsibilities of family, business and their personal interests. Have you ever seen a woman talking on the phone, cooking dinner and holding a baby in her arms (probably while also giving out tasks to the rest of the family)? Women want and crave everything in their lives and they are discovering (and gaining the confidence) that they can have it all. Women measure their success in these terms. Women also tend to have and enjoy multiple careers (all at once). With varied interests and that desire to "try everything life has to offer", women are learning that it's okay (and even good for them), to have multiple business interests and multiple business cards.

Women are oftentimes able to think in non-linear terms. Which means that they may not know exactly where they are headed when they start a project. At the same time, they are completely comfortable with that notion. Relying upon natural intuition, they move forward with a gut feel and see where it takes them.

And finally, women are unmistakably tenacious (think pregnancy and childbirth). Even if a woman has never given birth, those genetics are hard-coded into a women's body, mind and spirit. Women work hard when they are inspired and won't stop until a task is completed. Coupled with innate creative talents, a women business owner is a force to be reckoned with. For these and many other reasons, women are starting businesses at three times the rate of men. As a result, there are 11 million women-owned businesses in the United States and the number is growing. There's no wonder the term, "You go girl" resonates with women everywhere.

Lynn Toomey, a wife and mother of three children is the chief creativity officer of her own business called Let's Gogh Art, a mobile creative enrichment services company now offering a worldwide licensing program: (www.letsgoghart.com). She also offers marketing consulting services to small businesses under the name, Let's Gogh Marketing (www.letsgoghmarketing.com). If you would like to connect with Lynn, she can be reached while cooking dinner, helping with homework, cleaning the house, or checking emails from customers at: 978.833.6067 or 1.877.ART.GOGH.

Do you know anyone hiring lots of moms?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:42:00 -0500

Put them in touch with me. I want to get all of our great candidates jobs. If we all work together, we can find jobs for each and every one of us! You can email us your contacts at info@momcorps.com

Mom Corps University in Atlanta!

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:31:00 -0500

An educational workshop series for women focusing on the current issues affecting both your career and your family. Join us for our first class in Atlanta, GA: "How to EARN Money and SAVE Money in the New Year! Thursday, December 11, 2009
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Terry College of Business Executive Education Center
One Live Oak Center, 3475 Lenox Road, Atlanta, GA 30326 "How to MAKE Money"
Allison O'Kelly, CEO of Mom Corps offers proven strategies and techniques on finding the right employment options for you that will enable you to GENERATE INCOME and to strike the right balance in your work and family life. "How to SAVE Money"
Stephanie Nelson, Founder of Coupon Mom will offer smart shopping strategies to consider in a tightening economy. Stephanie's "Shop Smart" lessons include:
- How to cut your grocery bill in half
- How to save 80% or more every time you shop
- How to find great deals on dining out
- How clipping coupons can help feed the needy and more! Agenda
9:00-9:30 Networking Coffee
9:30-10:15 Allison O'Kelly, CEO, Mom Corps
10:30-11:15 Stephanie Nelson, Founder, Couponmom.com
11:15-11:30 Q & A Sign up before December 1st and SAVE $10! Regularly priced tickets - $35, click here to sign up today!. Please feel free to tell your friends and co-workers! A percentage of the proceeds from this event will benefit "Cut Out Hunger", a program started by Stephanie Nelson (the Coupon Mom) to benefit local food pantries. Special thanks to our sponsors, Terry College of Business and Skirt! Atlanta!

Own Your Career

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:25:00 -0500

Owning your career seems like a pretty easy concept. But too many people too many times find they are frustrated or unfulfilled with their job, company, and/or career or just can't figure out what they want to do for a living. From lack of productivity to poor physical and psychological health, the negative effects of unhappy employment situations can be staggering on the workforce, family, and personal levels. So the question is: how do you identify the right career, job, and company for you? While part of the answer lays in commonly identified factors such as your education, skill sets, past work experience, and the interview process, none of these addresses the primary predictor of job success your behavioral makeup, or temperament. Temperament is an amalgamation of various individual personality traits such as level of urgency, people focus, independence, communication capabilities, and values. When measured, your temperament can provide great and valuable insight into your ability to function and succeed in numerous aspects of life, including your career. Just as an individual has a temperament or personality so does every job, career, and company. And the personality of a job has little to do with the purely functional requirements of the work. Take accountants for example. Accounting seems like a pretty straight forward profession but while one company may want their staff accountants to be conservative and compliant another may expect them to be more flexible and proactive. So while both companies may require the same skill set and level of experience, an individual qualified for both positions may succeed in one but fail in the other due to a miss-fit of temperament. It is important to remember that unlike skills, which can be trained, personality factors are engrained and difficult to change. So before you can own your career, it is highly advantageous to understand yourself. A detailed behavioral assessment will allow you to focus your job search and walk into every opportunity with the ability to assess whether the job and employer offer you the best chance for success because they will be making the same judgment of you. Austin Stonestreet is Vice President of Sales and a founder of H2 Workforce. He has years of experience working with companies and individuals on hiring processes and job fit measurement. H2 Workforce is a web-based provider of hiring tools and services for businesses and individuals. For more information on Behavioral Assessments please visit the company website at: www.h2workforce. or contact Austin at (704) 464-0011 ext. 1001/astonestreet@h2workforce.com

Back to Business Wants to Teach You How to Re-enter the Workforce with Confidence and Know-how!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:13:00 -0500

So often in life we learn by trial and error. It's a method that works, but it can be slow, painful and demoralizing. Oftentimes, we choose to opt out of something we want because of fear of failure or humiliation. It doesn't have to be that way. When it comes to learning about how to get back into the workforce, we've got a confidence-building, content-rich, and energizing opportunity for you! Now, is your chance to learn from the seasoned professionals - CEOs, business owners, recruiters, lawyers, and HR professionals- who can tell you not only what they look for in a resume and job candidate, but also what it takes to be a successful employee or entrepreneur in today's workplace. Back to Business is hosting a groundbreaking, how-to workshop for women on Thursday, September 18th at Gillette Stadium at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass. The workshop series is entitled "What You Need to Succeed". Have you ever attended a workshop on how to be successful in your career? If so, you probably have heard fabulous, motivational success stories. You leave thinking, Hey, if they can do it, so can I! But you get home and find yourself thinking, Hmm, what exactly did they do to become successful? You're no closer to understanding how to achieve your goals than before the conference; you're just more frustrated. THIS conference is different. We have designed a two-track, high-content, educational workshop designed to bring you actionable items you can take home and begin using immediately. Attendees can pick and choose which workshop to attend based on what is important to them. We've brought in experts who will share relevant, career and business advice. Our goal is to have them inspire and EDUCATE the attendees. In one of the tracks you will learn exactly HOW TO: - Network
- Get your resume noticed in today's online job search
- Prepare for and handle tough interview questions
- Ask for flexibility at work
- Successfully and confidently navigate a career fair
- Prepare for time out of work
- Re-enter the workforce after a hiatus
- Create a professional wardrobe on a budget In the other track of the agenda, attendees WILL LEARN:

- How to Network
- Is entrepreneurship for me?
- About franchise ownership as a career option
- What every entrepreneur should know about the law
- How to write a business plan and why you might need one
- How to do Business-to-Business networking
- How to create a professional wardrobe on a budget Linda Waters is a wife, mother, career coach, and the founder of Back to Business LLC. Back to Business, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, provides a full range of services for women preparing to return to work or seeking a better professional "fit" and more fulfilling career. For more information about Back to Business, the conference and/or career-coaching, please see www.backtobusiness.org.

How to turn your full-time job into a part-time consulting business

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:45:00 -0500

With part-time and consulting work continuing to be seen as "the holy grail" of work/life balance, more and more women are asking how they can make the switch from being an employee to a contractor or consultant. Fortunately for those interested in making this change, more and more companies are open to engaging people, especially former employees, on this basis. This is particularly true today, when many employers need to cut back on FTEs (full time equivalents), but still have work that needs to get done. Readers recently queried us about the ins and outs of building sustainable consulting businesses. Q. How do I transition myself from a full-time job to a consulting job working part-time and still make a decent paycheck? A. You can't expect to make the same amount right off the bat, unless you're considered a hot shot and already have a backlog of clients interested in hiring you for projects. Start by talking with your current supervisor(s) about ways you might cut back on your hours and still stay engaged by them. In other words, try to turn them into your first client. In terms of pricing, if you're good at estimating the time it takes you to finish a project, you may do better financially by offering your services on a project basis, rather than an hourly basis. It makes it more difficult for clients to chip away at your pricing if you don't talk in terms of rates and time estimates. Set your prices based on what the client would have to pay someone else to do the same job. Or demonstrate how much money your work will save the client and make your pricing a percentage of those savings. In Back on the Career Track we have a section on consulting pricing which goes into these options in more detail. To build your client list, do the same sort of networking you would do for a job - contacting old work and school acquaintances, etc. Q. As a contractor paid hourly, when is an appropriate time to ask for a raise? Since I am at home and there is little face time, can I do this over the phone or should I go into the office to ask? A. After servicing an account for a year, we think you could ask for a raise. We suggest you e-mail your supervisor/contact saying you'd like to schedule a time to come in and discuss on-going arrangements. Ideally, you should approach your client just before or during their budget planning season. Then you can talk about the raise in the context of what their anticipated workload is for you, the kind of work, etc. Don't feel you have to get them to agree to what you want in one meeting. If they express hesitation and say they have to discuss it with higher-ups, don't automatically drop to a compromise position. Let the negotiations take their course and hopefully you'll end up where you want to be. Q. I have one great client, but I want to grow my business, and I'm also worried that they might drop me. What should I do? A. To cement your relationship with this client, try to develop relationships throughout the firm, so that you're not dependent on one good contact. That way, if your primary contact leaves or is eclipsed, you have other supporters. Also, be proactive about soliciting assignments. Don't just wait until they call you. Knowing their business as well as you must, periodically suggest projects or tasks you can take on that you think need to be done. To expand beyond this one client, turn this client into your secret weapon. Don't be shy about asking your current client contacts to introduce you to noncompetitive companies you've identified where they have relationships. If you have a good relationship with your current client contacts, and you assure them that you'll continue to give their account top priority, they should be willing to recommend you to other firms. Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin are the co-authors of the acclaimed career reentry book Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work, and the co-founders of iRelaunch, a company providing career reentry programming, events, and information to employers, universities, organizations and to mid-career professionals in all stages of career break. For more information on Relaunching, see iRelaunch and check out Back on the Career Track. Carol and Vivian can be reached at info@iRelaunch.com.

Meditation Brings Business Renewal

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:05:00 -0500

As a seeker of solitude in my busy entrepreneurial workday, I use yoga and meditation to calm my nerves, keep my head clear and focus. And I have found that the same principles used in the meditation practiced during yoga can be used to strengthen my business and can be useful for working moms, too. While meditating during a yoga class several years ago, the instructor told us to feel that every movement is a new beginning. This made me think of my own business, which was just a fledgling startup. In my day-to-day struggle as an entrepreneur, every project and each new contact could potentially take my business in a new direction. After making this connection, I knew that meditation could help my business. Since then, I've learned to apply some of the basic principles of meditation to my work life. Start employing meditation principles in your work life by viewing work as a living being. Each direction the being goes in is, in fact, a new beginning. View this positively since life, just like work, is ever-changing, and accepting that is a necessary part of enjoying your life and your career. It is also important to pause throughout your day and feel your body. Yoga has taught me to sit erect with feet planted firmly on the floor, and with hands relaxed in my lap, I breathe diaphragmatically. When I've had a particularly rough day, but cannot leave a project, I take a deep breath and count to four. I breathe in and out counting four or five times to quiet my mind. I remember to breathe normally. I try to relax and let thoughts come and go. As you practice, the interference you feel at first will subside and you will experience only that moment fully. Using these simple acts during the day can clear my mind and keep me focused longer while reducing the physical strain that comes with working long hours. There's a lot more to meditation than just learning the techniques and motions. Meditation is an entire state of mind and a whole different way of looking at the world and the role you play in it. To help you understand this better, try taking a yoga or meditation class during the week. The time (which might seem considerable for a mom with many responsibilities) is worth it when you weigh the mental, physical and spiritual benefits. Elizabeth Gordon owns a boutique management consulting firm called Flourishing Business®, headquartered in Atlanta, GA. She is the author of the bestselling, business strategy book for women, The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels. Receive a free copy of her latest eBook The Seven Secrets to My Success, at her website, www.chicentrepreneur.com when you sign up for her free Chic Tips ezine.

Minding the Gap

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:39:00 -0500

5 Key obstacles Stay-at-home Moms need to overcome to compete in today's job market When stay-at-home Moms begin job searching after for five, ten, or more years of being at home, they often find themselves lacking the confidence and sometimes the skills needed to land the type of job they'd like to have. I call this "The Gap". We've spent the past 2 years interviewing hiring managers, recruiters and HR professionals to define this gap, and find out what areas stay-at home Moms most need to address in order to compete in today's job market. The feedback has been remarkably consistent! Here's what they want to see: 1. The Resume:
Time at home with family should not be reflected by a void on a resume. You've certainly done whole heck of a lot more than nothing!

Highlight your volunteer activities and identify all relevant, transferable skills you've learned and utilized.

For instance: If you served on a board, include your leadership and management skills! If you managed any projects, highlight the skills you used to get the job done! If you raised funds, this is selling / marketing experience! Most of the time, participation in groups includes process optimization, teambuilding, etc. Be sure to include any numbers that demonstrate the results you obtained.

Bottom line: Do not undervalue or "pass over" what you've been doing, even if you weren't getting paid for it. The hiring Managers are open to time out of the workforce, but they do want to see what you have been doing. Remember, the resume is designed to get you the interview. It is the interview that can get you the job- so make sure to keep the resume concise and easy to scan in 30-45 seconds. 2. Computer Skills:
It's unanimous. Every single hiring manager we interviewed cited computer skills as a showstopper to gainful employment and critical to competing in today's job market. Even career and college classes require you to have computer capabilities now, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and some Excel.
Be careful not to underestimate how much there is to be learned! Some light internet and email use is not enough in the business world.
Not sure where to start? Take a benchmark test to see where you stand. Employment/ staffing agencies can provide these. They also provide "brush-up" tutorials. The Microsoft website has a library of tutorials, and most local adult Ed programs also offer courses to get you started.
Become comfortable with the basics and then research industry or job-specific requirements. You can use O*Net to look up careers and learn what industry-specific skills and software program knowledge are preferred. (http://online.onetcenter.org)

Bottom line: You don't need to be an expert, but you do need to know your way around the computer and some basic software programs. So invest in yourself and remember that employers are open to offering some industry-specific training. 3. Professional image:
Candidates who have been cleaning the house, driving carpools, and making lunches and dinners for years need to throw out the sweats and t-shirts and update their hair and wardrobe to reflect a new professional image!

Take this time to "re-invent" yourself, it can be fun! Go get fitted for a good bra. Update your hairstyle. (Make sure your hair color and makeup look natural!)

Buy a few interview suits that can be mixed/ matched later for less formal use, and have them tailored so they fit you well.

Remember to keep your accessories toned down because you want them to hear what you're saying, not what you're wearing. If this seems daunting, then get help from someone who knows how to dress for interviews and for life in your new chosen profession.
Bottom line: Your appearance is extremely important! It demonstrates your level of professionalism and commitment. It either says "executive", or not. Invest in your appearance and you'll feel great! 4. Interview Skills:
Of course I could write volumes on this topic, and many people have! So I'll include some of the basics that hiring managers want to see:
" You've researched the Company: You know what properties of the company appeal to you and why you want to work for them. Demonstrate that you have some understanding of their industry. Research the competition too. What are the industry hot buttons? Where is this company going? What is their culture?

" You've made an effort to learn some of the industry-specific language: Every industry has is "language". Read up to at least understand standard phrases and terms.

" Be Real! Remember that the person on the other side of the desk would LOVE nothing more than for you to be "the one" so that they can move on to their next task! Seeming nervous or "manufactured" just makes it difficult for them to figure out whether or not you're a good fit for the job in question.

So, be yourself. If it's not a good fit, then simply move on and remember that it's not personal. Also remember that you are interviewing them as well, to make sure that their work environment is one that you'll be happy and able to thrive in. Bottom line: Interviewing takes practice. Get out there and learn! Make every interview an interesting conversation, not an interrogation. Take every interview opportunity you can. If you're open, you're bound to learn something from each interview experience!

The best interview prep tool I've found is a killer value at $50, a 2 CD set called "Interview Mastery". You can find it at http://www.backtobusiness.org/resources.html. 5. Confidence:
This is not something you can buy or obtain easily. It comes from a process of introspection, clarity of who you are now in your life, what your needs are, and where you want to go- and it takes time and work to develop! So, be patient with yourself.
Potential employers do want to see that you believe in the value you can bring to their organization and to the job you're interviewing for. Practice articulating your value and goals: Women in particular often need improvement when it comes to talking about themselves and their skills. Learn to effectively market your skills to your chosen profession. Practice! Be clear on what type of work culture is best for you. Remember, it's not about getting any job; it's about getting the right job in an environment where you'll be successful and happy. Remember that most companies know that stay-at-home Moms may be lacking in some areas, however there are other areas where they will outshine their counterparts. While raising children parents quickly mature. They learn professionalism, commitment, patience and organizational skills. They also learn to multi-task and keep cool during highly emotional situations. Bottom line: Every individual has special talents and strengths. You are valuable! If you package yourself properly, and focus on finding the "right fit", you will find success! Linda Waters is a wife, mother, career coach, and the founder of Back to Business LLC. Back to Business, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, provides a full range of services for women preparing to return to work or seeking a better professional "fit" and more fulfilling career. For more information on Linda email at info@backtobusiness.org. Back to Business will be hosting a Women's Workshop event at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on September 18th and MomCorps will be there! For more detail go to www.backtobusiness.org.

5 Tips for Workaholics

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:27:00 -0500

You're a workaholic. Ironically, working constantly can make your work decline in quality and effectiveness. In order to avoid letting your business take over, incorporate the following 5 lessons into your busy life: 1. Run for your life. It is far too easy to avoid exercising because you have to do more work. Make you physical health your top priority. Take a jog or walk and mull over an issue that you've been having in the workplace. You will find that you can run across the solution and you will have more energy to power through those times when you need to squeeze more work hours from yourself. 2. Snack healthily. Working until the wee hours of the morning can cause you to have the late-night munchies. To avoid feeling drained of energy, keep snacks that are high in protein like canned tuna, raw almonds and soy nuts. Healthy foods make healthy minds that can work longer, harder and smarter. 3. Sleep! When you find yourself nodding off at your desk, or daydreaming, you are no longer productive. It's better to get a full night's rest and be fresh in the morning than to stay up late and work inefficiently. It is more efficient to get the sleep you need and be faster and smarter the next day. 4. Go outside. This can be combined with lesson 1. Fresh air does wonders for your mental state, and spending time with nature can bring out creativity, which leads to great ideas that increase your bottom line. To avoid cabin fever and tunnel vision, take a long walk, breath in fresh air and notice the beauty around you. 5. Find quiet time. Spending time with your family, talking on the phone and writing hundreds of emails everyday can wear you out. Find ten minutes everyday to meditate, close your eyes or listen to soothing music. You will be amazed what a little quiet time can do for your peace of mind. Those around you will be grateful that you are a more pleasant person to deal with. Working a lot is not a bad thing as long as it is temporary and there is an end, a break and future rewards in sight. By incorporating life-enhancing practices into your everyday routine, you can become more productive with a better quality of work, and this increases the longevity of your personal and business health. Elizabeth is the author of The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels, published by Robert D. Reed in 2008. This business strategy book for women introduces Elizabeth's unique nine-dimension methodology for creating a successful business and teaches how entrepreneurs can supercharge their business growth using their sass and style.

Elizabeth is Founder and CEO of Flourishing Business®, a business advisory firm for entrepreneurs specializing in working with high growth startups that want to augment their internal expertise with that of seasoned business advisors, who can help with strategy and execution.

Time to Think

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:49:00 -0500

As busy professionals with compounding responsibilities, isn't it becoming more and more difficult to find time just to ... think? Commiserating with colleagues and friends, we share how our work days are filled with an almost obsessed focus on getting as much work done as possible, countless meetings and squeezing every bit of air out of our schedules. In our other (and most important) roles as fathers/mothers and husbands/wives, we're faced with another harried stretch of time each evening filled with family dinner, kid's activities and the myriad other things that families require. Weekends are more of the same. Clever vernacular such as "perpetual hurry syndrome" and "time poverty," are beginning to circulate when describing this phenomenon, but I simply choose to call it alarming. We make decisions all day long, but how much of it is reactive and responding to what others throw your way? Taking time to think strategically, be creative or even pause to ponder an issue before responding is a growing challenge. The fact that many of us view time to think as a luxury is a sad indictment of the culture in which we live.

We are addicted to background "noise" and connecting with others through computer and PDA screens. I'm not opposed to technology, but recognize how I've allowed it to exacerbate my challenge with finding quiet time to think. What used to be a leisurely drive to work a decade ago is now crammed with phone calls. Waiting for appointments to arrive, stops at red lights and elevator rides are now opportunities to respond with my "Crackberry" to the barrage of emails I receive daily. In an effort to become more efficient, I am sacrificing thinking time.

Research for this article uncovered these insights into our penchant for technology and predisposition for interruption:

" Last year, AOL's third annual "Email Addiction" survey revealed that email use on portable devices has nearly doubled since 2004. Findings from the company's release include: The average email user checks mail about five times a day, and 59 percent of those with portable devices are using them to check email every time a new message arrives. Forty-three percent of email users with portable devices say they keep the device nearby when they are sleeping to listen for incoming mail.

With or without portable devices, 15 percent of Americans describe themselves as "addicted to email," and many are even planning their vacations with email access in mind. About four in 10 email users say it is "very" or "somewhat" important to them to think about email accessibility when they are planning a vacation, and 83 percent admit to checking mail once a day while on vacation.

" The Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenberger writes in her article, "Multitasking Makes You Stupid, Studies Say:" A growing body of scientific research shows one of professionals' favorite time-saving techniques--multitasking, can actually make you less efficient and, well, more stupid. Trying to do two or three things at once or in quick succession can take longer overall than doing them one at a time, and may leave you with reduced brainpower to perform each task. " A study by Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Carolyn Buck Luce published in the Harvard Business Review states: Forty-five percent of high-earning managers are too tired to converse with their spouse or partner after a long day at the office. This strain is wreaking havoc on family and personal lives. " From a TIME magazine article titled, "Help! I've Lost My Focus:" In a study of 1,000 office workers from top managers on down, Basex, an information-technology research firm, found that interruptions now consume an average of 2.1 hours a day, or 28 percent of the workday. The two hours of lost productivity included not only unimportant interruptions and distractions but also the recovery time associated with getting back on task. Estimating an average salary of $21 an hour for "knowledge workers," Basex calculated that workplace interruptions cost the U.S. economy $588 billion a year. " "Crackberry" was named the 2006 Webster's New World Collegiate Dictionary New Word of the Year.

Baroness Susan Greenfeld, well-known British author and Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford, said in a World Business article titled, "How Technology is Changing the Manager's Brain:" "We're already seeing the impact of the IT revolution on the workplace. Working on the screen is having a massive impact on the way we think and process information. The screen culture is not conducive to taking time to think--everything is instantly available. The result is iconic thinking, quick fixes and short attention spans."

Have we relinquished much of our ability to think strategically and creatively to the onslaught of increasingly sophisticated technology? Has the technological age, which was supposed to herald a time of increased leisure, in fact enslaved us? We are almost always reacting to television, the Internet, e-mails and phone calls. This forced diet of (other people's) information may be a necessary evil, but consider the real possibility that we have swung so far in that direction, we aren't generating and sharing enough of our own original thought. In her book, Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World, author Dr. Margaret Wheatley writes, "The single most revolutionary act you can do these days is to find time to think." Time to think, time to pray, time with family, time with friends--these are the components of the fuller and richer lives we all want to lead. Work will always demand as much of our time as we allow. But is technology the real culprit? Probably not. We have the freedom to choose how we spend our time and should take this responsibility onto ourselves. Remember that technology was intended to serve us, and not the other way around. So how do we create these respites of time we so desperately need? It's the little things; the small steps that will help us find our "thinking time." I've shared some ideas here: " Start your day on a different note Don't run to your computer and turn it on! Rather than checking email or reading the overnight news the moment you wake up, designate the first 20 minutes for reflection, reading, journaling or prayer. Have a cup of coffee, sit down and think about your day. Or perhaps reading or exercise stimulates your brain. Whatever it is, make it your time--it's the one part of the day when clients aren't calling and nobody is making demands on your schedule. " Put it on your calendar You know the saying that if it isn't scheduled, it will never happen? Try blocking out small windows of time each day for reflection. I borrowed an idea from the Jesuits called the Daily Examen where I schedule five-minute blocks of time throughout the day to reflect on my actions and think about the future. Schedule these time blocks around travel, meal and bed times. Keith Conley, an EVP with Document Technologies in Atlanta, offers this insight: "In an effort to force myself to sit back and spend time on the big picture, I have found what works best for me is to schedule 90 minute blocks of open time on my calendar twice a week. This creates an opportunity to focus on business strategy, evaluate progress towards business goals and to do a reality check on how I'm spending my time."

" Introduce simplicity into your life Try reading a book versus listening to the audio version. Spend time with good friends who will challenge you. Listen to beautiful music or watch a classic movie. Take a long walk with your spouse. Do something outside with your kids every day. Embrace their natural curiosity and be grateful they want to learn new things. Make an effort to teach them something about the world and how to think for themselves. Get some time for yourself on the weekend and make sure your spouse does as well. " Don't feed your compulsions As a practical measure, turn off the 'ding' when new email arrives. It can wait! Don't feel compelled to answer immediately. Do the same on your PDA. Turning off the audio or LED notification and checking for emails at the appropriate time can add to your ability to concentrate in a conversation or other thinking assignments. Look at other areas that feed tendencies which negatively affect thinking time and make some simple changes. " Hold mini-retreats every quarter Take a day off once a quarter, if not more frequently. Use this time only to relax and plan. Explain to your loved ones that you need this to collect yourself and get re-energized. The toughest challenge with a mini-retreat is to turn off your PDA and cell phone. Computers are okay if you are trying to capture your thoughts, but don't plan on checking email. " Schedule/participate in more open discussions and strategy sessions It can be as formal as inviting your team to a meeting where you throw a problem on the white board for discussion, or as casual as inviting a few friends to lunch to debate politics. When in the presence of your team, colleagues or friends ask thought-provoking questions. In an effort to break free from simply sharing regurgitated ideas and information, ask "Why" more often. Regardless of how you do it, this open debate and discussion is healthy and will feed and stimulate you in important ways. And by the way ... turn off the PDAs! "In meetings where everyone is checking email, opportunities for collective creative energy and critical thinking are lost," says Nathan Zeldes, a senior engineer at Intel and a leader of the nonprofit, Information Overload Research Group. " Designate certain windows of time as "gadget free" Choose times in the day (car rides are ideal) when all electronics are turned off, even the radio. This will take discipline, but imagine the car as your safe haven and "thought incubator." Lori Swope, an Account Manager with Watson Wyatt in Atlanta, has a balance in her life that I admire. She says, "I set aside certain times of the day for thinking and focusing on the people I love the most. Early morning is reserved for prayer, reading and exercise. The morning ride to school with my daughter is our time together - no Blackberries or phone calls. Dinner with my family means no interruptions or other distractions. It takes discipline, but these are my priorities. And my work is always finished!" " Surround yourself with personal advisors Pat McNulty, former SVP of Allied Waste and president of Barton Protective Services, has found that a "personal" Board of Advisors--consisting of friends, family, colleagues and clergy can stimulate you to think, calibrate, verify and validate; provide a valuable sounding board for decision-making; ask the tough questions; and provide real inspiration. Periodic and informal "values check sessions," give us much-needed pause. He continues: "Learning to drive, we are taught to look in the mirrors and gauge the short distance immediately in front of the car. We're also instructed to regularly take in the long-range, 'big picture' view. In everyday living, how often do we pause, breathe and take in the wider, more meaningful view?" A good friend recently gave me a beautiful leather writing journal. This thoughtful gift has prompted much of the thinking for this article and initiated a significant change in my daily routine. I enjoy writing and used to email myself ideas or leave myself messages at work--adding to the volumes I already receive. Now, I take the journal with me everywhere and find I'm reaching for it instead of my technology enablers. Actually writing by hand provides me a few precious moments between appointments or in the early hours of the day to gather my thoughts on a number of topics, and the process has been rejuvenating. Dan King, Chief Administrative Officer for Allconnect in Atlanta, offers this advice for creating thinking time: "I've discovered that three things are needed for me to think creatively a topic, time and place. During the course of my workweek, I keep a pad to jot down topics that require deeper thinking, business-related or personal. A couple of these topics go with me to my 'think space,' which happens to be a quiet café near my home, once or twice a week. This practice has made me a more valued contributor at work and what I hope is a better husband and dad." As many of us 40-somethings have a tendency to do, I am taking stock of what's important and am determined to find the time I need for God, family, work and me. Dr. Ron Young, CEO of TROVE, a national leadership development and coaching firm, recently provided me with this insight: "There are many different types of thinking. In today's competitive, adrenaline-addicted world, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that we do not have time to think. Living on autopilot or "living on fast forward" is the quickest way to rushing into inefficiency, errors and hollow living. Research tells us that we can save between four and eight hours for every hour we invest in planning." He continues: "We need to make time for big-picture thinking to look beyond ourselves and gain eternal perspective. Without time to think we are unlikely to question popular thinking, to be creative or strategic. Getting outside of ourselves and the rush of our day-to-day lives allows us to reflect, think unselfishly and remember why we are here. Making time to think allow us to connect with deeper needs of meaning and belonging. It allows us to recall that we are human beings, not task-driven robots." In conclusion, we give the important areas of our lives our best effort when we're calm, rested and thoughtful. We own the responsibility to make the necessary changes to give ourselves what we need. Author Dr. Margaret Wheatley also said, "Don't expect anybody to give you the time to think. You will have to claim it for yourself. If we want our world to be different, our first act needs to be reclaiming time to think. Nothing will change for the better until we do that." What part of your schedule will you reclaim today to get some thinking time? You read this article and I hope it made you think--that is a good start! Randy Hain is Managing Partner and Shareholder of Bell Oaks (www.belloaks.com) a nationally-recognized executive search firm. He has an established track record of leading successful searches and building teams in diverse industries and functional specializations ranging from individual contributors to C-level leadership. He may be reached at rhain@belloaks.com or (678) 287-2031. With a nearly 40-year legacy in executive search, Bell Oaks specializes in identifying, attracting and hiring professionals to critical positions with companies across the country. Founded in 1970, the national firm has particular expertise in the areas of sales and marketing, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and manufacturing/operations/engineering. Bell Oaks is consistently ranked as one of the leading search firms in the South and was recently named one of Atlanta's Best Places to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for the second consecutive year.

Time Management Strategies

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:45:00 -0500

Tick, tick, tick... the hands of a clock turning. Time. As professionals, time is our greatest opportunity AND our greatest liability. How can we capitalize on this opportunity and minimize the liability? By looking at time, not as something to be "managed", but as a framework to help us find our business rhythm or flow.
Flow is a guide or structure for your business day.
Financials and Focus
Ask yourself: Where is my revenue line? Where do I add value to the company? How close to the revenue line is my daily work? Ask yourself: What is my focus for today, this week, this month, this year?
- The answers to these two questions become the guidelines for building your schedule.
- When you look at your calendar or schedule, enter the activities, projects and tasks FIRST that are closest to the revenue line and your focus.
Now you have ensured that you have time to work on the items that are closest to the revenue and highest priority items. Fill in the other activities around these items.
Location
Does everything have a place in your calendar?
- Ask yourself: Do all of my activities/tasks have a place in my calendar?
- As the pace of work continues to speed up, unless projects, meetings and activities both personal and professional have a place in your calendar then how can you realistically know how much time you can allot for a task? How can you know that you even have the time to do a task?
- Have you ever packed for a trip and kept adding more and more things to your suitcase? Then your suitcase is so full, you have to sit on it to get it closed. Time is the suitcase. We can only put so many things on our calendar and then we just run out of room. So, does everything have a place in your calendar?
Organize
Organize your days around your priorities and then structure your environment to support them.
- If your priority is to increase revenue, then how must you organize your days to support your goal?
- How must you organize your physical office space to support your goals?
Work
Make it work for YOU! Design a system that allows you to flow through your days.
- When is your energy high?
- When is your energy low?
- How can you structure your schedule around your energy levels?
- Do you want to do all of your intense, focused work in the morning and respond to customers in the afternoon?
- What type of work can you do when your energy is not at its peak?
- What calendar tool works best for you paper or electronic?
- How do you process information?
- Do you like to receive information electronically, verbally, or printed?
- Is there a day planner or a software program that can help you increase your efficiency?
- Can you download contact management software?
- Can you have your assistant enter all of your appointments?
- Have you allowed enough time for you to respond to an urgent deadline, a personal emergency, or for fun?
Now, how are you going to get in the FLOW?
This article was written by Carson Tate, certified professional organizer and founder of Living Simply and Working Simply. For more information please visit our website at www.livingsimply.net. You may also contact Laurie Jones, the Residential Manager at-laurie@livingsimply.net or 704.362.1526.

Its Not the Economy. Its Your Attitude!

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:29:00 -0500

Some would say that we are in a "down economy" and while that may certainly be true for some industries, I believe the real truth is that it is NOT the economy. It's our attitude!

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article called "We Are What We Think About". I believed it then and I believe it now. And, I would add that our success is directly proportional to the positive OR negative thoughts swirling around in our heads. Even when times seem tough, it is our attitude, our point of view that makes all the difference between succeeding and failing. I refuse to buy into the myth that "no one is buying". That seems an easy excuse for some not willing to dig in and do the hard work, or those succumbing to their inner fears of scarcity.

Here's Barb's #1 Tip: Shift your thinking when times are tough, believe in yourself and what you have to offer, and close your ears to the noise of the pessimistic attitudes that could threaten what you want to achieve. A shift in thinking also means that you must be willing to be creative, look for new approaches to selling your products or services, perhaps work harder and stay focused like never before.
In the June edition of Selling Power Magazine, Scott Lindsey of Besam Entrance Solutions had this to say: "We have a sales force that, for 10 years, has not had to work hard, just go after the low hanging fruit." Now, with economic changes affecting their business, Lindsey tells his people that "they've got to roll up their sleeves; now it's going to be hard work." He adds: "Lots of younger salespeople do not understand that. Anybody can sell when things are really good." I couldn't have said it better myself. The true measure of your abilities shines through when you rise above the tough times to accomplish what you decide you want!

Look, don't get me wrong. I know gas prices are ridiculous, I know that we've had serious problems in the mortgage industry, which in turn is affecting other businesses AND at the same time I've heard from a number of people in those industries that they are still succeeding. Throughout history there have been down times and there have always been people who've succeed in spite of "the down economy". I choose to be one of those people! What about you?

The author of the best selling book Harmonic Wealth, James Arthur Ray, says, "Live from the outcome!" So what outcome will you live from? Will you be wildly successful by refusing to believe in the fears propagated by others, or be too scared to even give it a try?

Talent Builders CEO Barbara Giamanco capped a corporate sales career at Microsoft, where she led and trained sales teams and coached executives, before establishing Talent Builders, Inc. in 2002. She has worked with organizations to build high performing executive teams, develop leadership bench strength, improve communication, increase sales, hire the right people the first time, decrease turnover and improve employee retention. Barbara is also the co-founder of the Women's Mentor Network.

For more information on our products and services call 404-459-4030 or visit: www.talentbuildersinc.com.

Find Success With These Tips to get Un-stuck

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0500

If you're feeling "stuck" in your life or with some major aspect of it, practice using these ten tips for making positive change. You'll see things turn around!
At times we find ourselves getting in our own way. Sometimes, it's not clear to us how to go about making the positive changes we really need in order to be happy. We beat ourselves up for having done little or nothing about it, then continue in the same routine simply for lack of an alternative direction!
Sound familiar? If so, take a look that the following tips on how to move forward and create the life you really want. Practice using them to make the positive changes you desire. You'll see things turn around. You deserve this!
1. Commit to yourself just as you would commit to helping a friend who needs you. You'll find that your own positive process will have a ripple effect on everything in your life.
2. Be honest enough to say, "this isn't working for me". Define clearly what it is that you're unhappy with. Think about how it conflicts with your personal values. Work it out on paper.
3. Re-connect with yourself. Do some fair and honest self-assessment and soul-searching. What are your strengths? Focus on them. What are your weaknesses? Be aware of them and put them in the "things to be aware of" category.
4. Block out negativity or criticism that's not constructive. Tune in to your "self-talk." (You know what I mean, those negative beat-you-up tapes that run in your head). Write down the negative points and then give yourself twenty-four hours for a rebuttal. Think about these points as though someone had written them about your best friend. Now defend them! As for external negative influences, take stock of the contributors and resolve to allow them less-to-no- time in your new life.
5. Invest in yourself. Are you taking the time you need to work on your new life direction? Are you making time to exercise or meditate? Could you benefit from working with a coach or by taking a class? What is your self-care routine? Define and commit to things that will fortify you.
6. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. As long as you're learning, you're moving forward.
7. Pay attention to your wardrobe. Projecting a positive image makes a difference in how you're treated and how you feel about yourself. Even if you don't feel like it, dress "up one notch" every day.
8. Take ten minutes every morning to set your intention for the day. This will drive you toward your goals in easy to manage steps. You'll be surprised at how quickly the results accumulate.
9. Find a mentor, someone whose goal is your success. This person should energize and motivate you. Asking for help is a very powerful step. When you ask for help you're giving yourself a gift.
10. Write your goals down on paper. Focus on the things you want. Some people are so unclear on what they want they have to start with the things they don't want. That's okay! But move to the positive as quickly as possible. Resolve to be a goal-setting individual, moving every day toward the things that are important to you!
There's a start. Research tells us that it takes twenty-one days to make an action a habit. Stick with these actions and you'll find yourself in the driver's seat of your own life. Remember: your own thoughts, attitudes and actions create results. Make them positive!
Linda Waters is a business/career coach and the president of Back to Business, a company focused on helping people achieve successful career transitions and women who want to return to the workforce. She lives in Franklin with her husband and two children.
For more information on how you can get Back to Business, check out www.backtobusiness.org or call 508-520-4100.
Copyright © 2008 Back to Business All Rights Reserved

Getting Back on the Career Track

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:58:00 -0500

Would you like to return to the work world but are concerned about how to find an opportunity that will allow you to fulfill your family or other non-work obligations, nervous about how to "market yourself" to potential employers, or unsure about what type of work you want to do? We know how you feel. We took time out to be home with our children, and then relaunched our careers years later. Based upon our experience, and that of the 100+ women we interviewed for our book on resuming careers after a career break, Back on the Career Track, as well as the career counselors, recruiters and employers whose advice we sought, we've developed a detailed process to help you negotiate this major transition. Here it is in a nutshell: 1. RElaunch or Not: You Decide. If financial reasons require you to return to work, go to step 2. If not, determine whether you are ready to go back to paid work or whether deepening your volunteer involvement or engaging in a non-work passion might satisfy your restlessness. If you're not sure whether or not you want to return to paid work, visit www.backonthecareertrack.com. and take our Relaunch Readiness Quiz. 2. Learn Confidence. If a lack of confidence is one of the obstacles holding you back, don't worry. You can regain it. Remember, whether you are a nurse, speech therapist, computer programmer, scientific researcher, or salesperson, your former colleagues' and classmates' image of you is frozen in time. They think of you as a consummate professional, and as you start to renew your professional persona and reconnect to the professional world, your confidence will grow. Following Steps 3 and 4 will also help increase your confidence as you update your professional knowledge and become more articulate in expressing what you want to do and why. 3. Assess Your Career Options. Don't think that returning to the conventional full time workforce is the only way to resume your career. The moms we interviewed did everything from starting a home based afterschool enrichment program (former teacher) to running career services for a law school on a flexible schedule (former public defender) to job sharing a hospice administrator position (former social worker) to creating a marketing campaign for a new mutual fund from home (former mid level marketing executive). Break down your old job(s) or volunteer experiences into their component parts and focus on what you did best and what you liked best. Then try to think of new opportunities that build on those skills and interests. 4. Update your Professional and Job Search Skills. A sure way to increase your confidence and bolster your employability is to update yourself. Read relevant journals, take continuing education classes and attend industry events. In terms of job search skills, develop an elevator story (a two minute talk answering the "what do you want to do" question) that summarizes your expertise and the kind of opportunity you seek in a few key sentences. 5. Network and Market Yourself. Order yourself a business card with your name and contact information. That way you don't have to scribble on a piece of scrap paper if you meet someone who wants to keep in touch with you. Then, start talking to people, beginning with those you know well. Branch out to those to whom they refer you, and discuss your professional interests and the kinds of opportunities you'd like to explore. These informal conversations essentially function as interview rehearsals, as you gradually hone your message. Prior to formal interviews, make sure you prepare extensively by studying the employer's website and practicing answers to the most common interview questions. When asked about your resume gap, answer matter-of-factly that you took some time out to raise your children/take care of an elderly parent, etc., but that you're now eager to get back to work. 6. Channel Family Support. Get your spouse, if you have one, on board with your plans as soon as possible. If you encounter resistance, make it clear how important this is to you and point out that with extra income you might be able to outsource some of the tasks that neither of you wants to perform, such as cleaning and shopping. The older your children are, the sooner you should tell them as well. If you need to change your childcare arrangements, try to implement the changes before you start your new job, so you can work out any problems. Streamline your household routines to maximize time to devote to either work or family. Develop a support network of family and/or neighbors to help you out in a jam. 7. Handle the Job or Find Another One. You found the right opportunity and you've relaunched. Initially, keep your employer's expectations low. Better to underpromise and overdeliver, rather than the other way around. Ask for early and frequent reviews ideally, every six months, because neither you nor your employer will be able to predict the rate of your career trajectory. Help your colleagues whenever possible, so they'll reciprocate when you need them. And, remember, this is just your first foray back to the professional marketplace. If it doesn't work out, you can always make a change. Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin are the authors of Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay at Home Moms who Want to Return to Work (Warner Books, June 2007). For more information and/or to contact them, please visit www.backonthecareertrack.com.

Put the Fireworks Back in Your Business!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:26:00 -0500

July is National Horseradish Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Grilling Month and National Ice Cream Month. Who comes up with this stuff? Whomever they are, one thing is clear: those folks like to eat. With backyard barbeques, homemade ice cream and time spent with family and friends on everyone's mind, here are 10 ways for you to put the fireworks back into your business during the summer lull:

1. Bargain hunting -- If you've been waiting to purchase new office copiers or cubicles, the summer is a great time to shop around. Suppliers might offer good deals to generate summer business, and you can even negotiate for additional perks like added features or discounted service plans.

2. Go green -- As gas prices reach and exceed the $4 mark, a slow summer provides the opportunity for you to try to be greener by telecommuting to work. You can start out slow by doing this one day a week to gage your productivity and the functioning of the office.

3. Get organized -- Even in the summer, it doesn't hurt to do some "spring cleaning:" start shredding old documents you no longer need. If you must keep large amounts of documents but you're running out of space, a document imaging service can convert your paper into easily manageable electronic files. And this clean up isn't restricted to just physical documents -- deleting old emails and programs you no longer use can help boost your computer's performance.

4. Hire summer help -- Local universities and professional staffing companies are great sources for finding young professionals looking for internships or part-time work for the summer. The extra help will allow you to hand off mundane tasks like general office duties or data compilation, allowing you to focus on bigger projects or business growth.

5. Revisit old ideas -- Use your extra time to go back to ideas or projects you put on the back burner earlier in the year. Did you want to redesign your web site? Did you want to focus on new products? Laying the foundation for new concepts during the slow summer months could help put your company in a better position when business picks up.

6. Take time off -- If business is slow because customers are taking vacation time, why not follow suit? After working hard all year to make your business flourish, relax and spend time with friends and family. Besides, abandoning your Blackberry and laptop for a while can help recharge your batteries and make you more productive when you return to work. Take advantage of the summertime and put the boom back in your business! Elizabeth is the author of The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels, published by Robert D. Reed in 2008. This business strategy book for women introduces Elizabeth's unique nine-dimension methodology for creating a successful business and teaches how entrepreneurs can supercharge their business growth using their sass and style.

Elizabeth is Founder and CEO of Flourishing Business®, a business advisory firm for entrepreneurs specializing in working with high growth startups that want to augment their internal expertise with that of seasoned business advisors, who can help with strategy and execution.