Saturday, August 26, 2006
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is "Nancy," an Anonymous Woman Marketing Communications Executive.
about "Nancy"
"Nancy" is a Woman Communications Executive at a leading company. She first visited re:invention's blog as a reader, leaving comments and sharing her unique perspective. Her personal story? "Nancy" was recently overlooked for a promotion. Her boss, a 60-something male, hired a man with a completely inappropriate background for the open position. After being overlooked for the promotion, "Nancy" was reassigned and offered a small performance bonus to appease her. 
Her executive salary still falls painfully short of the salary package offered to the inappropriately qualified male executive the company promoted. "Nancy" has admittedly been frustrated. Today, "Nancy" shares her top 10 tips. She prefers to remain anonymous, particularly because her tips are controversial and her tenure is still tenuous. "Nancy" will complete her Master's Degree this December. Her proudest achievement is her family. She has been married for 21 years and has two sons, ages 17 and 20.
"Nancy's" Controversial Top 10 Tips.
Warning: "Nancy's" 10 Tips are not for the faint of heart...
1. Getting a good education is totally not necessary, especially if "The Head Boss Man" is the guy you sit next to at the Moose Lodge/Rotary/Kiwanis, etc.
2. Work hard to win is a fallacy. A minimum level of work will suffice. Simply giving the impression of being busy will do.
3. Working extra hard (i.e. weekends and evenings) makes you look desperate.
4. Forget the old adage: "See what needs to be done and do it." If it's not getting done, there's a reason. No one cares! And neither should you.
5. Complain if you want results and you want someone to take action. Apply the squeaky wheel rule here. Or, put another way: You don't ask, you don't get.
6. For most of women, the mantra "ask for forgiveness, not for permission" is laughable and a sure sign of career death. Charging ahead will only yield a long diatribe from your boss about how you really don't have the authority to do whatever it is you were trying to do.
7. Don't worry about being on time. Again, no one cares.
8. The ROI on attending awards dinners, banquets, etc. is extremely low. Don't bother.
9. Innovation and change is bad. The status quo and standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be maintained.
10. Watch your back, because no one else is. Forget about being a team player.
Contact Information
"Nancy" prefers to remain anonymous. Please feel free to leave her comments here on re:invention's blog.
Many appreciations to "Nancy" for taking the time to share her controversial take on what it takes to win as a woman in the working world. Do you agree? We invite you to share your feedback...
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Saturday, August 19, 2006
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Susan Roth, CEO of Trims Unlimited, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA).
about Susan Roth and Trims Unlimited, Inc.
Trims Unlimited opened in Manhattan in 1969 as a personal shopping and wardrobe consulting service. In 1985, Susan Roth inherited the company from her mother. As the company's client base grew, Trims Unlimited developed a reputation for its knowledge of protocol and foreign customs in addition to its discretion and taste. By 1991, word of Trims' unique ability to successfully source and deliver the most arcane requests had spread to IBM and Oracle Corporation. Thirty-five years after Trims Unlimited opened its doors, Susan Roth and her experienced team are collaborating with marketing teams, event planners and top level executives for companies as varied as Apple Computer, The Bellagio Hotel, Tourneau and The White House. Under Susan's guidance, Trims Unlimited, Inc. has regularly been named one of the top 100 Woman Owned Businesses in Los Angeles and has received award nominations from the The Governor of California and The Los Angeles Mayor's office as well as recognition from Harvard University's Diversity/Small Business Program and the Tuck School Of Business at Dartmouth College. Susan lives in Los Angeles with her husband - together they share two grown children and two beloved though unruly German Shepherds, Jax and Abby.
Susan's Top 10 Tips.
1. Know yourself - your strengths and limitations.
2. Understand your business model and develop a clear, concise, articulate public persona.
3. Learn to delegate but always know what is going.
4. Hire talent with the right chemistry to mix well with your current team.
5. Give your employees "ownership" of their work and encourage teamwork.
6. Take care of your employees and they will take care of you.
7. Treat your suppliers like partners.
8. View mishaps as part of a learning curve - "coolly" correct the mistakes, make the necessary adjustments and move on.
9. Its all about relationships - nurture those you have and view them as lifetime commitments.
10. Market to your "low-hanging fruit" - use established relationships with current clients to generate more sales opportunities for your company, rather than marketing to the masses.
Contact Information
Susan Roth
CEO - Trims Unlimited
4525 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 205
Los Angeles, CA 90010
323.939.3008
Website:
www.trimsunltd.com
A big thanks to Susan for her wise words.
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Dr. Ellen Weber (PhD), MITA International Brain Based Renewal Center (Rochester, NY).
about Dr. Ellen Weber (PhD) and MITA Renewal Center
MITA International Brain Based Renewal Center (www.mitaleadership.com) is a center with two brain based renewal arms. One arm helps business leaders to benefit themselves and others at work from brain based insights. The other helps faculty at university and secondary school to use hidden or unused parts of the brain for higher motivation and achievement for all students. MITA founder and fearless leader, Dr. Ellen Weber, is a well recognized author of several recent books for the higher education arm, and her business blog at www.brainbasedbusiness.com offers daily tips to help business people accomplish things never before accomplished by using parts of their brains never before used in business. Dr. Weber's MITA brain based method is used extensively in the US, South America, Asia, Mexico, Europe, and Canada, and her many published works on practical ways to get more from the human brain are translated into several languages.
Ellen's Top 10 Tips.
1. Remember to Market with the Brain in Mind - Yours and Your Client's. Differences can work in your favor say between men and women. Believe it or not, the brain holds extravagant illustrations now to show gender differences - biologically and physiologically. For instance, if a man and a woman are asked to solve the same problem. different parts of their brains will light up as they find a working solution. Do you see the implications here for valuing differences and respecting diverse offerings at the board table? You'd be surprised to see how people agree with what the brain shows them and each time we welcome differences we grow new capacities to benefit from people who differ. Do you see new inroads of access here for gifted people who still stand on business fringes?
2. Use Brain Based Business Practices to Build On Your Mistakes.The brain works best when we simply build on past mistakes. For that reason, at the MITA center we have an expression: "We don't do guilt." Instead, look at your mistakes as stepping stones to improve a product or process and you will begin to reinforce success in your brain. Sure. it's usually a good idea to apologize whenever we take a nose dive, but then move on quickly. When you move forward with a positive target in sight, the brain produces a chemical hormone, serotonin to help you learn and achieve your goal. Moan over mistakes and you are helping the brain to produce cortisol, a stress hormone that shuts you down, stops your progress, and lowers your immune system.
3. Challenge Traditions and at the Same Time Respect Traditionalists.We learn from the pros, observe them, seek them out as mentors and partners. That's good for the brain and good for business. It's also good to learn brain based approaches to challenge pros who become complacent or arrogant. To encourage people's evolution forward, is to help them to reflect on opposite views in ways that show added value that comes from alternative possibilities. It's a bit like riding the bus and pushing it at the same time - and the brain is equipped for both in ways that amaze people we work alongside.
4. Lead with Your Strengths and Offer Possibilities for Problems, The human brain is wired for unique challenges - the kind that bring solutions to the most stubborn problems. Believe it or not, you can actually create new neuron pathways in your brain to new solutions that will often escape those who emphasize problems only and neglect to run after solutions. Invite workers to nab solutions - or even partial responses - to any problem they present to you. That not only draws gifted people into your business vision, it also adds deep personal satisfaction for the work. Within days human brains will rewire themselves for ideas, insights and possibilities that motivate others to use their brains to create and articulate answers that raise the bottom line.
5. If You Haven't Been Told "No," Take the Risk and Try.The brain-based way is to rarely wait for official blessings to try new things. Stay prudent, of course, but avoid "Nay Sayers" who see their role to simply say, "No." To change you have to access your working memory - which takes huge energy and lots of willpower until you get used to "living outside the box." After a few genuine risks, your brain will hunger for the "aha" moments that pump adrenalin and give you a life-changing high! It starts simply with taking a risk and that one action will retrain your brain to rewire for the kind of risks that many millionaires take daily. OK - don't take action if you sense a 40 percent chance of being right. But neither should you wait until you are 100 percent sure. By then it's almost always too late.
6. Look Past Assumptions and Meet with People at the Top.Assumptions such as "If it ain't broke, don't fix it, are simply slogans of complacency, arrogance or fear. Refuse to develop a mindset that assumes today's realities will contain tomorrow's best fixes. in tidy, linear, or predictable ways. Instead, why not create innovative solutions to solve stubborn problems that stay hidden to people who buy into assumptions. Now that you have prepared your mind. it's time to take a risk to meet with people at the top to market your innovative responses. Come in with a few facts about how their brains really work and watch their attention spike at the news!
7. Use Hidden or Unused Parts of the Brain for Business Decisions.Go with your gut and you'll use more of your intrapersonal intelligence. That's only one of your eight intelligences - the other seven can also take your business to new peaks. For example, take a mentor to lunch and you tap into interpersonal intelligence. Play your favorite music while you work and you'll take advantage of musical intelligence. Walk through a park with a big question in mind and you'll unleash your naturalistic and kinesthetic smarts. Design a new web page without words and watch brilliant new images emerge from your spatial intelligence. Start a newsletter and linguistic intelligence kicks in to help you communicate new gems. Organize your day and sequence any high priority events and logical-mathematical intelligences come into play. Each time you use one new intelligence you also grow
dendrite brain cells for its growth. If you add just one or two extra smarts a week to your workplace, you'll also increase the collective IQ for the work proportionately, and the process energizes people around you.
8. Build Curiosity Through Two-Footed Questions.Use two-footed questions that link your business plans to people's interests. One foot relates to your business offering. and one foot relates to a client's interests. If you run an engineering firm, ask: "How could a water based cooling system save you almost half the cost of air conditioning in two years?" If you own a media firm, ask: "What do you do differently from all that we already run at this media center?" Curiosity is the human brain's fuel for excellence and it draws out strengths from people in ways that surprise most of us. That's because the brain is wired to capitalize on mental acumen for business growth when curiosity enters the mix.
9. Create New Neuron Pathways Through a Ripple Effect.The ripple effect in any workplace creates enthusiasm, optimism, and passion for a cause. People rarely capitalize on the power of one to start a ripple effect - and yet the brain equips us for just that. I'm talking about the opposite to negativity, cynicism or pessimism. Just as to whine or blame engenders similar behaviors among others at work. so does a positive approach to problem solving overpower the grim litany of those who claim to be "realists." Einstein and other geniuses claimed to enjoy the unrealistic aspirations of an optimist daily, and that triggered their brains in directions of success. Start by modeling one positive behavior and stay with that until you see it take root and build new neuron pathways in a person beyond yourself. As soon as one other person jumps in you have already doubled the ripple effect. Do the math and you'll see how to start a new neuron pathway blitz at your firm.
10. Laugh...Especially at Yourself and Go with Your Gut Humor.Humor helps just about everything! Humor is good for business because it release enzymes into the brain and opens new spaces for learning, giving and for enjoying what you do. It's also good for expansion, because people gravitate to humorous people, and research shows they like to do business with people who can laugh at themselves. Those who laugh (especially at themselves) tend to succeed more. New research links humor to health, happiness and healing. I use humor when speaking to leaders in many countries and am often amazed at how laughter relaxes people and prepares them to risk new ideas. Whether it's medical professions we worked with in Ireland this summer. or Government leaders we addressed in China and South America, people do better work when they laugh!
Contact Information
Dr. Ellen Weber (PhD)
CEO - MITA International Brain Based Center
PO Box 347, Pittsford, NY 14534
Phone 585-421-3656
Website:
www.mitaleadership.comDaily tips at Ellen's blog:
www.BrainBasedBusiness.com 
A big thanks to Ellen for her wise words.
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Mary Schnack, CEO of Communication Bridges, Inc. (Sedona, AZ).
about Communication Bridges
Communication Bridges bridges communications among individuals, businesses, communities, governments, and cultures. 
Owner of Communication Bridges, Inc., Mary Schnack, is a public relations consultant and crisis communications expert. She has helped small businesses, associations and corporations with a variety of public relations needs and speaks on communications and business topics throughout the world. Her keynote presentations have garnered rave reviews internationally and her warm easy style, command of her subject and keen awareness guarantee that her audiences come away entertained, enlightened and most importantly, informed. Her topics are interesting and thought-provoking and offer communication tips that can be put to immediate use. By peppering her presentations with examples from her personal experiences in such places as Waco, Rwanda, Russia and Los Angeles, Mary offers real world perspective and not just textbook examples from other people's work. In 2004, The United States Small Business Administration honored Mary as Women Business Advocate of the Year for the State of Arizona and Region IX. She served on the national board of the National Association of Women Business Owners and received the association's Pioneer Award in 2001. She currently is the Chair-Elect of NAWBO's International Forum.
Mary's Top 10 Tips.
1. Begin with a Communications Plan.It is imperative to create a Communications Plan, which serves as a road map for your outreach strategies. Just as you can take a turn when traveling, you can change the plan as you go if your goals change. But it is best to take some time to map out your strategy before you begin. The planning process is also a great way to get more people involved in the plan. The development of the plan by a committee of key individuals will give "ownership" of the process to others.
2. Consider Awards.Awards are a wonderful way to get publicity for your business and boost employee morale. They are a terrific form of recognition, whether it's within your community or industry, or in front of clients, professional associations, government officials or shareholders. (Plus, mom and dad are always proud, too!) It may take a significant portion of time, but enter award competitions in your industry. These are one of the highest forms of recognition for your work. However, rarely do these awards "find you." Contact your local industry association(s) and find out if they have an awards program. Search the Internet for other related associations that may have awards programs.
3. Build your reputation as an "expert."One of the most effective public relations tactics you can employ is to let the media know that you are an expert in your field. There are two ways to accomplish this task. Smaller newspapers, professional organizations' newsletters and trade publications will often print articles that are of interest to their readers. If you are a car dealer, you may want to write an article on leasing vs. buying. A business in the health care field may want to address the many changes occurring in the marketplace. A lawyer may write about the pros and cons of incorporating a business.
Another way to be seen as the "expert" is to write a simple letter of introduction to your local media, to reporters who often cover your area of expertise, or to editors of sections where you would like to be mentioned, to make them aware of who you are.
4. When it comes to P.R., think national AND local.When it comes to public relations, many clients aim high and think of exposure in national magazines, the morning network shows, the Top 100 newspapers or even Oprah. But don't overlook your local weekly-targeted articles that promote you and your business can often be a goldmine if placed there, too. Don't overlook or underestimate local media in your PR campaign. Many times your local media can be your best ally.
5. Turn speaking engagements into media opportunities.Are you asked, from time to time, to speak at meetings? If so and you just "do somebody a favor" by lugging your PowerPoint presentation, giving the talk, taking a bow and leaving, you're missing a great public relations opportunity. Using the event to promote yourself could spark a media chain reaction from local coverage to national. With the Internet, local stories are easily accessible to national writers as part of their research for national stories. Knowing this, you can possibly spark a chain reaction from local exposure to national coverage.
6. Use testimonials. Third-party endorsements help build and identify your brand. Having others tout your success and talk about how you helped them carries more weight than if you say it.
7. Get your brand out there! Include your logo and tagline on all your materials, including your web site, letterhead, business cards, advertising and marketing materials, such as brochures, presentation portfolios, packaging materials, shipping materials and supplies. Have additional items, such as pens, coffee cups, bags, and notepads, that carry your brand. Because people use these items every day, they provide a great vehicle to build brand awareness.
8. Learn how to handle crises.Whether you are part of a large corporation or a small family business, no one is exempt from a crisis. Crises appear in the news all the time and small businesses are often the victim - business loss due to arson, product tampering, someone getting hurt on your premises, or a sexual harassment lawsuit. Crises are not always "negative" - an employee that wins the lottery may create enough media attention that you need to activate your crisis communications plan! If something were to happen at your place of business, would you be prepared? It's too late to develop a crisis communications plan once the crisis hits. You need to have a plan in place with professionals "on call," know how to communicate both internally and to the media, know who the "quarterback" is going to be to get you through this stressful time, and what message you will want to transmit.
9. Media training is key to help you prepare.Media training helps make people in the spotlight, or people on the spot, feel comfortable not only in handling questions, but also in clearly presenting business key points while sounding sincere and credible. It comes in handy for standard publicity interviews and during times of crisis. Media training encompasses instruction in interview guidelines, techniques for directing interviews, developing message points, and handling different (and difficult) interview styles. It is important that training be done on a regular basis, at least once or twice a year, to refresh the spokespersons' skills and maintain their confidence level.
Media training techniques can also be used as general communication skills, giving executives, business owners and employees new tools in their communications toolbox. Start using them immediately. You will be more satisified and confident in your interactions, and consequently have less stress overall in your business and social relationships.
10. Spread the good word.Send in information on your business - regularly - to your Chamber, association, website, newsletters. Very few members take advantage of this free membership perk and it goes a long way in helping your peers, local community and potential and current customers understand about all the services/products that you offer.
Contact Information
Mary Schnack
Communication Bridges
Bridging Communication Among Individuals, Businesses, Communities, Governments and Cultures
928.204-9834 or 800.529.7599
Web:
www.communicationbridges.com
A big thanks to Mary for her wise words.
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
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