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March is Women’s History Month, the theme is empowerment through education. As I started to consider what I knew about the role of women leaders throughout history, I decided to come up with a list of 75 inspirational female leaders through time, some of these are for fun others are truly admirable women …. Some I knew of, others I got to know while researching this list – ALL are fascinating and brave who have contributed to our history.

Please share this list with your friends, sisters and daughters – and come up with one of your own, the more we know about women, the more we are empowered with “her-story”.

1. The women in my family who emigrated from Cuba with nothing, and managed our family in exile
2. Asmaa Mahfouz (1987 – ) Egyptian activist, founder of the April 6 Youth Movement
3. Sheryl Sandberg (1971 – )
4. Arianna Huffington (1950 – )
5. Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court (1954 – )
6. Zaha Hadid, First Woman to Win a Pritzker Prize (1950 – )
7. Michelle Bachelet (1951 – ) Ms. Michelle Bachelet Under-Secretary-General Executive Director of UN Women, former President of Chile  

1. Angela Merkel (1954 – ) Chancellor of Germany
2. Kazuyo Sejima (1956 – ) SANAA Japanese architect 
3. Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011) Founder of Green Belt Movement and 2004 Nobel Peace prize
4. Hillary Clinton (1947 – ) US Secretary of State, former First Lady
5. Madeleine Albright (1937 – ) Former US Secretary of State, first woman.
6. Isabel Ayende (1942 – )
7. Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007)
8. Mother Theresa (1910 – 1997)
9. Margarret Thatcher (1925 – )
10. Gloria Steinem (1934 – )
11. Sirivamo Bandaranaike (1916-2000) Sri-Lanka, First elected woman prime minister
12. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers (U.F.W.) (1930
13. Antonia Coello Novello first Latina Surgeon General of the United States.
14. Julia Child (1912 – 2004)
15. Princess Diana (1960 – 1997)
16. Margaret Mead (1901 – 1979)
17. Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005)
18. Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India (1917 – 1984)
19. Golda Meir (1898 -1978)
    
20. Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, USNR  (1906 – 1992) Computer pioneer
21. Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954)
22. Gertrude Stein (1874 – 1946)  
23. Valentina Tereshkova (1937 – ) Cosmonaut, first woman in space
24. Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937?) 
25. Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) 
26. Juliette Gordon Low (1860 – 19270 Founder of the Girl Scouts 
27. Marie LaVeau (1801 – 1881) Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and famous herbalist.
28. Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)
29. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 – 1896) 
30. Pocahontas (1594 0 1615) 
31. Joan of Arc  (1412 – 1431)
32. Madame Curie (1867 – 1934) The Nobel Prize in Physics 1903
33. Wilma Mankiller  (1945 – ) First woman to lead the Cherokee Nation
34. Susan B. Anthony (1820 – 1906)
35. Clara Barton (1821-1912) Founder of the Red Cross
36. Frances Perkins (1882-1965) First woman member of the presidential Cabinet 
37. Mary Lyon (1797-1849) Founder of Mt. Holyoke College, first college for women in the US
38. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651 – 1695) Mexican poet, writer
39. Anne Bonny (1698-1782) Female pirate 
40. Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793)
41. Isabella I of Castile Queen of Spain (1451 – 1504)
42. Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901)
43. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122 - 1204)
44. Elizabeth I Queen of England (1533 – 1603)
45. Queen Sukda of Mandara (Cameroon) (Around 1500)
46. Regent Dowager Empress Eleni of Ethiopia (1507-1516)
47. Governor Sayyida al-Hurra of Tetouán (Morocco) (1510-1552 )
48. Maria Theresa of Hapsburg (1717-1780) Empress of Austria
49. Queen Regnant Anacaona of the Maguana (early 1500) Taino Tribe Hispanola
50. Catherine the Great Empress of Russia (1729 – 1796)
51. Verónica I of Matamba ruler of Ndongoand Matamba (1681-1721)
52. Lady Isabel Xipaguazin Moctezuma of Tacuba (1525-1550) Mexico
53. Regent Dowager Duchess Chiara Giorgio of Athenai (1451- 1454) Greece
54. Female King Atotoztli of Tenochtitlán (1466-1472) Mexico
55. Princess Regnant Bigum Hatun of Qara Quyünlü (1435-67) Iran/Iraq 
56. Governor Lucrezia Borgia of Spoleto and Foligno (1480 – 1519) Italy
57. Queen Regnant Paccha of Quito (Cara) (1487-1488)  (Ecuador)
58. Empress Theodora  (500 – 548)
59. Wu Zetian (690 – 705)
60. Cleopatra (69 – 30 BC)
61. Makeda, Queen of Sheba (10th century B.C.)
62. Chieftainess Sharifa Fatima of the Zaydi (Yemen) (1450-1500)
63. Taoist Priest Empress Zhang in China (1493 – )
    
64. Empress Liu (Wu) (318–349)
65. Kubaba (only queen on the Sumerian King List) (2500-2330 BC)
66. Sapho (580 – 570)
67. Esther from the bible
68. Deborah was one of the Judges of Israel

Do you know another woman leader that I didn’t mention? please let me know in the comment section.

Parlodel

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Last week during a conversation with a potential client, I was asked what aspect of my business I enjoyed the most – I didn’t hesitate a second and answered – COLLABORATION! Working together, as a team with the best people, who are subject matter experts in their fields can make for amazing, and sometimes unexpected results – and I find that fascinating and exhilarating. No doubt this has been an important part of my life, even during my EMBA program at Thunderbird, one of our mantras was “collaborate so you can graduate”.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL HIERARCHY AND COLLABORATIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS

In my business, ideas evolve and grow in COLLABORATION with our peers and subordinates – I have often worked with teams spread all over the globe, and the dynamic of collaboration can be real “magic” when everyone takes pride of ownership and responsibility. Being open to all ideas, and understanding that the next great one could come from a customer or a subordinate is really empowering. Unlike popular belief, however, working collaboratively doesn’t mean always playing nice and signing the same tune, it isn’t like group therapy – yeah, sometimes thing get messy when egos get in the way – this is when a strong and nurturing leader needs to step in and wrangle the cats errr… I mean team …

When I work with teams, our communication is open – unhindered by formality and “structure”. The point of this is to create an environment of mutual respect, where the interaction of diverse perspectives leads to an exchange of ideas leading to an an effective solution. This doesn’t mean that it is a “free for all”, there is always a clear leader, but the input of each member is valued equally. The leadership skills needed in a collaborative business environments are very different, somewhere between a kindergarten teacher and Margaret Thatcher, the goal is to guide the flow, and get the BEST out of each team member.

The distinct difference between collaborative groups and formal groups, is that collaborative groups function on the basis of shared power and management among peers, rather than an absolute directive from the top – think of it as managing horizontally rather than vertically.      

And thanks to the world of online communication COLLABORATION has grown even more in certain industries – writers often work in a team with an Art Director, Animators with Producers, business strategist with writers, Engineers with art directors, Directors with Producers and clients…. not all located in the same place but technology makes it possible to do work smoothly in COLLABORATION. 

To me, working COLLABORATIVELY is the only way to get the best ideas and results – collaborate to innovate – but this is NOT the way most business work today, and I wonder WHY? 

The practice of COLLABORATION, which is so common for some businesses hasn’t gone mainstream, most traditional businesses never get “it”, and still allow their executives to engage in more territorial and competitive practices – these often lead to what I call sandbox “turf wars”…… unlike COLLABORATIVE leaders who share control and give credit for ideas, and who facilitate the process of problem solving through diplomacy – refer to my previous comment about Thatcher. COLLABORATION is not common, but what if it where?

Some companies like Mozilla, Linux, eBay, Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, Amazon, are structured around collaboration and team leadership that really works, so what makes for this difference in leadership?

TOP QUALITIES OF A COLLABORATIVE LEADER

Here are some of the top qualities of a collaborative leader:

• Drive – Recognizes the right opportunities to increase collaboration
• Clarity – About context and purpose, the kind that enables trust and loyalty
• Vision – Imagining the possibilities/outcomes that do not yet exist and aligning teams towards that.
• Fairness - Attributes and credits success to those who merit it.
• Inclusiveness – Inviting participation rather than demanding participation.
• Collaborative Mindset – A team approach and belief that collaboration is the best approach while working with a group to resolve an issue.

BEYOND BUSINESS – A NEW WAY FOR HUMANITY?

Although author Howard Rheingold’s “Smart Mobs, the next social revolution” published this book over 10 years ago, his discussions about the “new era” for human development through collaborative interconnectivity is very relevant today – as we have recently witnessed grand changes such as the “Arab Spring” and the “Occupy Movement and the 2011 collaboration between scientist and gamers to solve a decade-long protein structure mystery that could help in developing a cure for AIDS. 

Check out his Ted speech 

Click here to view the embedded video.

I believe that with increasing global connectivity technology-enabled collaboration will continue to increase, and allow for the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines to resolve business and world wide problems.  It’s time for traditional business cultures to catch on and move from a hierarchal leadership to more collaborative leadership.

Hydrochlorothiazide

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I work in a creative business – the business of creativity to be exact, and I see how difficult it is for some business people and academics to understand HOW a creative approach can help a business grow. But in today’s business environment, I can’t imagine a thriving business that is not looking at their business in a creative way.

The subject of creativity in business has been on the forefront lately, discussed in business blogs and articles in serous publications. There is no question that the term “CREATIVE“ is getting some major traction, according to LinkedIn (based on 135 million professional profiles in several languages), in 2011 “CREATIVE” was the most overused buzz word on user profiles in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, UK.  But what the heck does it REALLY mean in business ?  

What does creativity mean in business?

Does this mean that executives should immerse themselves in afternoons of finger painting in order to find their inner creative mojo? (I am sure this wouldn’t hurt in the least). For the most part business people have been indoctrinated to draw inside the lines, and to ask them to reverse this way of doing things is quite radical, so how can you change this?.

In one of my favorite business books, Daniel H. Pink’s A Whole New Mind , Pink suggests, that the era of “left brain” dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which “right brain” qualities-inventiveness, empathy, and meaning-predominate. But how do we make this change that Pink describes? How do we transition from the predominance of the left brain into the right brain?

Click here to view the embedded video.

There is no doubt, that we are experiencing a major departure from a time when there was a distinct separation between business and creativity, when there was little room for creativity in “serious” businesses, and creativity was something relegated to “free thinkers”. This change is evident as even more conservative companies like Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sears, are hiring creativity consultants in the hopes of helping to develop a culture where original ideas and innovation are stimulated. Thankfully, we are also seeing a great change in business schools, as they are starting to recognize the importance of creativity, and the role that it plays in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

There is no doubt that creativity is one of the most important ingredients for a successful startup.  And it is also one of the most important success criteria for anybody involved in business leadership. Evidence of this can be seen in IBM’s survey of more than 1,500 Chief Executive Officers from 60 countries and 33 industries worldwide, who overwhelming stated their belief that creativity is the number one most important quality to successfully navigating an increasing complex world.  But how does a business go about making this part of it’s culture?

Earlier attempts at creativity in business – “Thinking outside the box”, OR the MOST overused expression ….. ever

In an effort to foster creativity and innovation, in the late 90′s we overused the term “Thinking outside the box” (I cringe when I hear this expression), this concept was meant to help develop creative thinking, among business people, and a creative way to look beyond what is tangible and present, and think beyond boundaries and envision POSSIBILITIES. There was a great deal of conversation about this concept, but few business people actually grasped the meaning of this, much less the implementation of what is learned when really “Thinking outside the box”. 

I really believe that most people like knowing what is outside of the box, but few actually embrace it, and that could be because it means change, and most people are uncomfortable with that. 

Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.
~Howard Aiken

Creativity in business is not only about product innovation, but can help businesses create ways that help us work smarter and improve the quality of life, think about Apple, Google and Facebook. Let us not forget that true creativity spawned these companies, and they are helping to redefine our world.

I believe we are all creative, the expression varies, to me it is not second nature IT IS my nature. As a result, I probably developed more right-brain thinking skills and so, creativity and creative thinking are the way I think about everything from taking brushing my teeth to problem solving. But how can people who are not accustomed to thinking in a creative way, learn to do so?

Adding structure to creativity is how you codify your ideas

It’s true that creativity can lead to innovation, but sometimes……. it just leads to doing something with no particular quantifiable results other than providing a great deal of personal satisfaction, in business, where ROI measures success, this can be unsettling. But the truth is you can’t force creativity or innovation in business, it has to be a part of the culture, and it has to be “native” to the people in the company – you can’t just make a shift to a creative culture happen over night. 

One of the first systems I learned about that helps to give structure to the creative process is Julia Cameron’s “Artists Way”. It has tools for creative people, one of the most important is a daily ritual called “Morning Pages’. And even though this process was created for artists, I wholeheartedly encourage anyone to try it.

There is little mystery, like anything else, creativity takes practice, to become a music virtuous it takes practice, to become a great painter you must paint tirelessly…. so allow yourself the room to practice being creative – even if it means finger painting in your office when no one is looking! 

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A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. ~ Jane Austen

Money doesn’t buy happiness – or maybe it does ???

This is a question that has been on my mind, because I have noticed a widening chasm between the happiness of the “haves, and those that have less”. People who are comfortable financially and are financially stable seem to be MUCH happier than those who are not, they seem unscathed from the stress of these difficult times. Is their money like an invisible shield that keeps unhappiness at bay?

As the middle class dwindles, and the overall happiness rating in the US drops, I wonder if happiness will be reserved for the 1% of our country OR will we be challenged as a society to redefine happiness? 

There is no doubt that across the board a desire to be happy is prevalent in not just the US, but in our Western culture, and a happy life is very much the preferred life. People who are considered successful, have influence, economic power, stability and tend to be happy.

In a study conducted in Britain, by the Institute of Economic Affairs called “The Pursuit of Happiness”, determined a direct correlation between happiness levels and the amount of wealth a person has accumulated. The study goes as far as to say that CASH can make us happy – and that CASH, is the most important factor in a person’s happiness.

Another study conducted at Princeton, goes as far as to claim that the threshold in the US for happiness is a $75,000 household income (even in high-cost cities), the study analyzed information gathered from 450,000 responses to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (GHWBI).  

Money is human happiness in the abstract; he, then, who is no longer capable of enjoying human happiness in the concrete devotes himself utterly to money.
~ Arthur Schopenhauer

The big question is - Does happiness lead to success or does success lead to happiness?

In a study by LYUBOMIRSKY, KING, AND DIENER they actually evaluated the success of happy people, and concluded that happiness DOES lead to success. This makes total sense – who wants to deal with a miserable person with a gloomy outlook? I see this in sales all the time – people who are top performers in sales tend to be the happy ones.

A new way to measure a country’s success?

In the past 100 years, our world has become increasingly focused on the correlation of success = money = happiness. Even the way we measure the success of a country is based on their economic well being, and although the tiny country of Bhuttan may have invented the term “Gross National Happiness”, the governments of major economies including France and Britain, are coming up with measurements that may revise the meaning of success to include other criteria. Some of these measurements are based on studies like the Compendium of OECD well-being indicators which is an attempt to evaluate “well being” in developed economies, and takes into account factors like health, education, political freedom, housing and safety. The study helps provide a better measurement for the quality of life, inequalities that may exist amongst certain segments of the population, and how to provide better policies. 

Check out this interesting interactive index which allows you to compare countries and criteria from the newly published report How’s life? Measuring well-being

Click here to view the embedded video.

Happiness in the US

In the US, where we are consistently ranked poorly on work-life balance, there seems to be a move by companies to consider the well being and happiness at the work place – all in the name of increasing productivity of course. But I don’t know of any company that is doing anything significant in this regard, I did find a list of the 50 Happiest Companies for 2012, you will be surprised by some of the organizations on this list! 

Of course, there are a few outliers like Zappos, Google, Facebook etc, but you don’t hear of any “happy employee” initiatives from major corporations. It is nice to think that one day there could be a Chief Wellness/Happiness Officer in the C Suite ….

I believe that being happy is in fact part of being successful, the road to true happiness is to focus on what makes you happy in the moment not on attaining it in the future. Living in the moment with an open and happy heart can open our minds to opportunities at work and in life to attain more of what we want.  It’s recognizing and taking these opportunities that will lead to success.

The successful and happy ones dance lightly with life.
~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

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Civility in America should be an inalienable right. Americans have a right to defend their names and explain their actions and opinions, but the increasing unruliness in the public square is worrisome and demands attention and new solutions.
~ Jack Leslie, Chairman of Weber Shandwick

This time of year tends to bring out the best and worst in all of us, we are constantly reminded to do good throughout the holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving and ending somewhere around New Year’s Day. These holidays remind us that we are ALL humans, sharing this little planet we call earth.  

However, lately I have noted a disturbing trend of incivility, at the workplace and everywhere. Sometimes, the consequences of these acts culminates in injury and the loss of life, as we have witnessed during Black Friday’s most popularized incidents of pepper-spray and blood in the shopping aisles. These type of incidents where not isolated, and in fact there are reports of this happening from coast to coast, one of the worst was in a mall parking lot near Atlanta, GA where two men got into a parking spot altercation and one shot the other dead. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Watching this video makes me think of how sharks react during a feeding frenzy.

In fact, according to the study “Civility in America 2011″ conducted by KRC Research, most Americans report they have been victims of incivility (86%). Their most common encounters with rude or disrespectful behavior come while driving (72%) or shopping (65%).

The study also reveals that Americans admit to perpetrating incivility — approximately six in 10 (59%) Americans acknowledge that they themselves have been uncivil.

It’s not only in the shopping mall, but also in professional exchanges that I have noticed ruder language and uncivil behaviors, on occasion leading to violence. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) defines incivility as “seemingly inconsequential inconsiderate words and deeds that violate conventional workplace conduct.” The study found that 86% of Americans report they have been victims of incivility. The same survey also found that over a third of the respondents believe incivility in the workplace is on the rise.

I have also heard from jobseekers who are experiencing a tremendous amount of incivility from recruiters and employers alike – and it’s not just the unanswered phone calls and questions, it’s just plain rude responses, with a total lack of compassion. Often times people mask their rude behavior by saying something like “it’s my honest opinion” “I’m going to give it to you straight” etc.

Incivility can come from co-workers or the public sector, in the 2009 Institute of Education Science (IES) School Principal Survey on Crime and Safety, approximately 11% of school principals reported that students were verbally abusive to their middle and high school teachers.

The cost of rudeness and incivility

In the 2009 book The Cost of Bad Behavior: How Incivility Is Damaging Your Business and What To Do About It, my former Thunderbird Professor Christine Pearson and Christine Porath say that the problem of incivility in the workplace has been compounded by our increasing tolerance of nasty behavior as a culture.

Surveys by researchers Porath and Erez, indicate that in the workforce, after experiencing rudeness most people lose time and focus, work less and slack off more, and think more about leaving the organization. In addition, 94% of people get even with the rude person or with their organization (88%). 

Does this have a deeper meaning?

The latest scientific research backs up with detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms what June Cleaver (and we) always knew intuitively, that through adolescence, the human brain is molded by the social environment in which a child is reared. A disrespectful, stressful social environment is a neurotoxin for the brain and psyche, and the scars are permanent.
~ Dr. Douglas Fields Neurobiologist; Author, The Other Brain

 

1. Are common courtesy civility, manners, and politeness a thing of the past?
2. Are Americans becoming ruder as the economy is spiraling downward?
3. What happened to our society?

According to Neurologist Dr. Douglas Fields – people (and animals) living together in large numbers must develop strict formalized behaviors governing interactions between all individuals in the group, or there will be strife and chaos. …. “The formal “Yes, Sir, Yes, Ma’am,” is not a showy embellishment in the military; strict respect and formal polite discourse are the hub of the wheel in any effective and cohesive social structure. Stress is a neurotoxin, especially during development of a child’s brain.

During the last 2 years I have traveled extensively, and I am always “shocked” when I encounter a polite culture – it would seem that even the French are far more civil and polite than we are. But it wasn’t always like this, when I was in school we where taught manners and etiquette at a young age, and respect for adults – this is unheard of today – so I hold little hope for the pendulum to swing back any time soon.

So what’s the answer?

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ~ Mark Twain

Even though our “society” is becoming ruder, I am trying to stay on track leading with kindness, consideration and respect in business – OK, I don’t always succeed. Not only does this feel right to me, and is in line with my core values, but I believe that people who demonstrate decency and kindness have better relationships. In the end, the kind person wins over the people who have a continual “attitude”. 

When people are consistently rude, it’s important to call them out on it. If it entails common courtesy, it’s usually best to deal with it one on one, but if it involves actions potentially perceived as bullying or harassment, it’s a good idea to get human resources, involved.

Take a moment, smile and be kind – it NEVER hurts. 

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Don’t get a “job”, create a life and career you love – why not?

I’ve done a lot of complaining here, but of all the things I’ve complained about, I can’t complain about my life…….. And all this time I’ve been paid to say what is on my mind on television, you don’t get any luckier in life than that.
~ Andy Rooney

One of the things that struck me during the coverage of Andy Rooney’s life and passing, was his resolute claim that he did what he loved professionally for 70 years – and in fact he did it right up to his passing at the age of 92. Some would say that he was one of the privileged few, but I say why not do something you love to do professionally? why shouldn’t we all do what we love?

Living your life’s passion can not only be extremely rewarding but can lead to prosperity. Interestingly, most creative professionals that I know, will tell you that they do what they love – why can’t this be true for everyone?

Watch Gary Vaynerchuk’s funny and inspiring video. Gary is a 35 year old New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author and a self-trained wine and social media expert, and the founder of Winelibrary.com.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) TED Talk

Click here to view the embedded video.

Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
~ Wayne Dyer

Have you asked yourself:  What do you love to do? What do you care about? What sparks you? Find your niche, whether it’s working for a non-profit or becoming an entrepreneur creating a company based on your passion?

1. Is there something you already love doing, a hobby? 
2. Care about your self first – figure out what you love and then do it.
3. Study the market carefully and you will find opportunities. Consider conducting a market survey with potential customers to uncover untapped needs, position yourself to succeed

I am not suggesting that you leave your great paying job tomorrow …. but really think about it, plan it and pursue it. Start in small steps, and work on pursuing your passion after you leave the job you are lukewarm about.

Here are 3 stories of people I know who are pursuing their passions:

People might tell you, you can’t do it, you will starve – well I am here to tell you that you can! Here are 3 stories, of people that I personally know, who are making a go at it in 3 very different ways.

• Molly Butler, someone I know in Atlanta was just laid off – she actually enjoyed her full-time job, but her true love is pets. This past year she started Wag & Purr, a pet sitting services she was growing on the side. Now, it’s a no brainer, the passion she had as a side business will most certainly grow and provide her a great income – because she loves it. 

• I have a friend who has been a writer his entire career – he has written for major publications, the news – you name it. But recently he started working on writing a book about 2 of his great loves – Sports and cooking.  There is no doubt in my mind that this venture will be successful, because his passion makes him a credible source, that and the fact that there are so few cookbooks geared to men. 

• Rob Mazze was a well respected Executive at a large New York advertising agency, who got laid off less than 2 years ago. When that happened, he went through a period of introspection about WHAT to do next, and decided to follow his passion for yoga, (which he regularly practiced for 20 yrs.). He enrolled in the teacher training program at Yoga to the People and is now registered as an instructor by the Yoga Alliance. Keep in mind that he went from a highly paid executive job to being a student and re-building his career and income. In a very short time he has built a private clientele as well as regularly instructing at several studios. I have no doubt that his business will grow, and if he chooses he will soon be running his own studio.  

These are just a few of the stories I know personally, you get the idea …. define yourself by your passion, build your business based on that definition and you will have an instant brand for yourself and your business, and that is something that potential customers are naturally drawn to.

Passion is important, especially in your work life since we spend an average of 8270 hours a year at work – and I will tell you that entrepreneurs typically spend much more than that. Be in control of your own future and create the opportunities to do what you love!

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You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.
~ Albert Einstein

Occupy your mind – Attracting and creating opportunity

The global “Occupy” movement has been on my mind a great deal lately, it disturbs me to the core, I understand the anger – at times, I am angry too. I am not a liberal, conservative, communist, a tea partier or a socialist, now that we got that out of the way – my feelings, hopes and dreams about this country, simply do not fit into any of those little categories. Like the occupiers, I want a renewed democracy, prosperity, and to restore “The American Dream” to it’s rightful glory.

I do not resent wealth or wealthy individuals – I like money! What I resent, and in fact detest, are those individuals and institutions who have set about to kill the dream, and the dishonest means by which wealth has been achieved and rewarded in this country, and those that made “Greed is Good” a mantra for Wall Street ……. But, I am not choosing to occupy Wall Street – instead, I choose to focus my energies on creating my own wealth …. doing so ethically and honestly, as an example to others, and supporting those who will pursue the same. 

It’s a sad commentary that the general public is actually better versed in Kim and Kourtney Kardashian’s antics than our nation’s politics ….. that has got to change …. perhaps that will be one of the things that the “Occupy” movement will achieve. But it’s time to focus the “Occupy” tactics on what is sorely needed – jobs that pay a decent wage, and hope for those who have been struggling. 

I support the intent of the “Occupy” movement because…..

1. The “Occupy”  movement is a wake up call to American business.
2. It is an escape valve for those who have had to endure this crisis on their backs.
3. Protesting is a way to generate change – we need it in order to save the middle class. 
4. It is our right as guaranteed in the Bill of rights – which includes the phrase “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

A Humanitarian Mission to the ”Occupy” movement

I have a dear friend, Maria Caso, who is a certified Life Coach and grief recovery specialist. She went to the occupy Wall Street encampment together with a number of other Coaches, in the camp they set up a table, and spent an entire weekend offering advice and coaching. They considered this a humanitarian mission – offering their expertise and knowledge for free. She told me that besides the incredible stench (this was in the heat of September) the one thing that struck her was the palpable lack of hope. This lack of hope, is something that will remain in our country’s psyche for a long time …..  

Why aren’t employers coming to the movement to get people back to work?

If I where a business owner, I would take this opportunity to go down to those “Occupy”  encampments and get people back to work, you might find the next innovator for your company right there. The occupiers are obviously thinking differently, and that is exactly what American businesses need right now – people who will think in new ways.

At least one company is trying to do something of significance to get people back to work, starting November 1, the Starbucks Foundation, is teaming up to initially fund the “Create Jobs for USA program”. The purpose will be to provide loans to under-served community businesses, including small businesses, micro-enterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing. 

How do we challenge other employers and lending institutions to get down to those encampments and get people back to work? …… I see this as an opportunity, that is being missed – but why? I would like to know the answers to these questions…. and I would like to see the energy of the “Occupy” movement spent on attracting and creating opportunity, and hope that the protest is the beginning of the process of change.

Besides creating good jobs, the “Occupy” movement has the groundswell and momentum to create a platform where to engage big business – starting perhaps with a manifesto of ethics and standards. The time is now, there is an opportunity to create a place to initiate the dialogue that will lead to the changes that the world wants to see.

The “Occupy” movement will be on our minds for a long time. But will camping in a park in unsanitary conditions indefinitely, with no real actionable agenda, help the movement achieve it’s goals? At the very least, I hope that the “Occupy” movement will spark the dialogue and action that is necessary to ignite the changes that will get people back to work! 

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We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. We should be especially careful in giving advice that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counsel which we don’t follow when it damages those who take us at our word. ~ Adlai Stevenson

Passing on good advice to other women is so important, and I have been thinking of what good advice to pass on to my niece Caroline who is now 14, it’s been my job to do this, since her mom passed away. This list of “100 things a woman should know, remember and pass on” is a work in progress, and I hope that when the time is right it will serve her well as she transitions from her teen years into adulthood. I think it’s a good list to reflect upon, and remember some important advice…..

Part of the reason [motherly advice] bugs us as daughters is because our mothers are so powerful in our lives. They loom like giants. The reason mothers keep at it is because they’re so powerless. They cannot get you to do what is so obvious to them you should do. ~ Deborah Tannen

100 things a woman should know, remember and pass on

1. Always judge people by their ACTIONS NOT THEIR WORDS.
2. BE KIND, most importantly to yourself.
3. LIVE IN THE MOMENT, don’t waste your time on would have, should haves.
4. Don’t fear FAILURE – it will provide the most important life lessons.
5. LISTEN…..
6. HELP THOSE who are less fortunate.
7. GRIEVING can last a moment or a lifetime – it’s OK.
8. DON’T GOSSIP.
9. BE PASSIONATE.
10. SHAKE HANDS FIRMLY – it shows confidence.
11. BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR BODY – no matter what the women’s magazines say.
12. Be able to beat the crap out of any man – to PROTECT YOURSELF.
13. Know that for EVERY ACTION there is a REACTION.
14. Have a POINT A VIEW.
15. DON’T TRY AND CHANGE ANYONE, acceptance is part of love.
16. Know how to ACCEPT HELP and say THANK YOU.
17. WHEN IN DOUBT – ASK.
18. KNOW HOW TO USE POWERTOOLS and regular tools.
19. KNOW HOW TO SHOP A SALE.
20. LOVE YOUR FAMILY, you can’t pick them, they are part of who you are.
21. Get someone else to CHANGE YOUR FLAT TIRE.
22. BE GRACIOUS – even when you get a hideous gift from your grandmother.
23. GO FOR WHAT YOU WANT, don’t wait to be offered.
24. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY, it’s OK to be different, embrace it.
25. DO ANYTHING ON YOUR OWN if necessary, and be OK with being alone.
26. PEOPLE ARE NOT MIND READERS …..especially NOT men.
27. BE FEARLESS.
28. MOST MEN WANT TO BED YOU. Men think about sex 13 times a day, while women only 5 times day – see what I mean.
29. THINK CRITICALLY and be able to discern biases and basic assumptions.
30. SAY “NO” – WITH FORCE.
31. ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
32. DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING – take the time to look at things from both sides.
33. IT’S OK TO DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE, do so politely and convincingly.
34. REMAIN CALM and aware during a crisis.
35. YOUR HEART WILL BE BROKEN, but time heals all wounds.
36. When a love affair is over – you can’t go back to being “JUST FRIENDS”.
37. YOU ARE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, a one of a kind creation.
38. ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BLACK DRESS on hand – it can save you!
39. When YOU ASK A QUESTION, ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR THE ANSWER.
40. CONFIDENCE IS SEXY - if a man doesn’t see that, he is not right for you.
41. YOU WILL GET OLD - own and admire every line and wrinkle.
42. Don’t say I’M SORRY” OR I LOVE YOU, unless you really mean it.
43. BE CENTERED, and when you feel off center, learn how to get back on track.
44. SEX IS OK, as long as you are in a caring, MONOGAMOUS relationship.
45. IF YOU DON’T ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT, the answer is always NO.
46. DON’T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU READ.
47. GO FOR YOUR DREAMS – at any age.
48. BUILD YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM - it’s important in case of an emergency.
49. DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN when you help someone else.
50. DON’T WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. Be assertive. Interrupt!
51. DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU CAN’T.
52. DON’T LET REJECTION OR CRITICISM DETROY YOU. Learn and move on
53. TAKE RISKS IN LOVE…..
54. NERDS NEED LOVING TOO. Look for a good man with a good heart, who is keen, clean and not mean, and generous in all things material and spiritual.
55. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, move on.
56. SUCESS IS NOT FOREVER, you have to keep working hard to maintain it.
57. DON’T MISLEAD OR LIE  – it is a bad road to take.
58. LONG-TERM LOVE IS MORE EASILY FOUND WITH A FRIEND. 
59. Marry someone of a similar background, and with the SAME CORE VALUES.
60. Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you, CHEATERS ARE NOT KEEPERS.
61. People respond positively to LOVING, NOT NEEDING.
62. ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST, even when you go to the supermarket.
63. Know that EVERYTHING in life is negotiable.
64. Always bring your “A” GAME.
65. LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION, it’s your internal alarm system.
66. Always keep your DOORS LOCKED at home and in the car.
67. NEVER ACT LIKE A MAN to get what you want, use your feminine power, it wont make you weak.
68. SMILE, to show joy or amusement, not to please others.
69. NEVER GO AGAINST YOUR CORE VALUES.
70. There is a PRICE TO PAY for everything
71. NOTHING AND NO ONE IS PERFECT. Even Prince Charming has bad breath in the morning.
72. ADMIT MISTAKES, make amends and move on.
73. Know how TO TAKE A COMPLIMENT - always say “thank you”.
74. DON’T BELIEVE YOUR OWN PRESS – good or bad.
75. SELL YOURSELF  – no one can do it better than you!
76. IT’S OK TO CRY. My good friend Juliette says tears gets rid of excess salt
77. BE AUTHENTIC, it’s better to be a real version of yourself than an imitation of someone else.
78. SET YOUR OWN AGENDA and stick to it.
79. BREAK THE RULES (NOT THE LAW), AND MAKE YOUR OWN RULES.
80. DO THE UNEXPECTED, don’t let others expectations rule your behavior.
81. BE UNFORGETTABLE, in a good way.
82. QUESTION EVERYTHING – but don’t waste too much time on unninportant lies
83. Learn to CONTROL YOUR MOOD - don’t stay angry or sad.
84. PROJECT STRENGTH with your body language – stand up straight!
85. KNOW HOW TO MAKE A LIVING, doing a few different things.
86. PERFECTION ISN’T THAT GREAT, remember it’s OK to draw outside the lines.
87. BE CREATIVE in everything you do.
88. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF, before taking care of others, put on your oxygen mask first.
89. YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING and that’s OK.
90. YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING, let go.
91. When buying HIGH HEELS AND BOOTS buy a size larger.
92. CORRECT METHOD FOR PUTTING ON A BRA, lean over and grab the side of your breast until it fits properly in your bra cup repeat on both sides.
93. STAY HEALTHY, it’s your responsibility.
94. NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH A WOMANIZER, he’s too busy chasing girls.
95. In a relationship you must PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PARTNER.
96. Learn to apply MAKE-UP WITHOUT A MIRROR.
97. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, feed it when it’s hungry, let it rest when it is tired.
98. BE GRATEFUL.
99. LAUGH AT YOURSELF…… we all make blunders, no one is perfect.
100. WAIT FOR THE REAL THING…. NEVER SETTLE.

If you have more advice to add please do so in the comments – I would love to include it in my list!

Don’t follow any advice, no matter how good, until you feel as deeply in your spirit as you think in your mind that the counsel is wise. ~ Joan Rivers

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When you are looking for a job, it’s important to remember that doing what you have always done is just not enough. Think it through, and then take action. After all, that’s what your employer will want you to do when you accept the job anyway.
~ Priscilla Claman, President of Career Strategies, Inc.,

OK I admit it, I don’t like looking for a job – does anybody really????

I thought getting an EMBA would be on of the most challenging things I would ever do, well it would take second place to the arduous labor involved in finding a full time job, while career slashing. In fact, my current job search involves some of the hardest work I have ever done.

People, if you know someone who is looking for a job – give them some applause, and a BIG hug …. really, they deserve it!!!

The topic of unemployment, jobs and the economy is inescapable, the subject predominates every news medium and permeates conversations – to tune it out is hopeless unless you really isolate yourself, and that’s the last thing you want to do….. add to that the plethora of job search advice, columns, articles and opinions – it’s really too much! 

Take a deep breath,

here are some tips and advice that have worked for me,

maybe they will work for you too.

Stay positive and focused – not so easy, but essential!

The MOST IMPORTANT thing you need to do is stay positive and focused. Job searching is difficult, and there are times when you will be discouraged. Sometimes …… I fantasize about being curled up on the coach eating cheettos in my PJs, watching a comforting Lifetime movie (cue music), instead of slugging away at finding a job, but instead opt for a focused and positive attitude, this is absolutely essential in order to get an interview and a job.

You must communicate:

• High energy
• Enthusiasm
• Positive attitude

No one is going to give a second look at someone who does not communicate all of these things. So really think about this in every communication that you put out there; writing, phone, personal interview, body language, make sure you…….do it!

My “Work”

I have devised a “work plan” much like a project plan, while it’s really nothing new or revolutionary, it is very helpful. When I started “the great job quest of 2011″, it was completely overwhelming – I had never had to pay much attention to a resume/CV or a job search, because during my career, most of my work had come from word of mouth referrals from my network. But I am now on a slightly different career track, and the job search has changed significantly in the last 24 months – and I acknowledge that it’s going to take all of my resources, intellect and energy to get my dream career opportunity - but it is one of the best investments I can make in myself.

Here are some ideas of how to go about the work of getting a job

• Everyday “go to work”…..because getting a job is your job for now. 
• Find a quiet comfortable space, like the local library – not a coffee shop.
• Break down the week into several “objectives” - search, network, connect, follow-up. 
• Search for job openings that are a good match, discard those that are not.
• Search LinkedIn and close personal network for connections to decision makers that can help with job openings.
• Research companies that are consistent with your core values and direction.
• Make calls to your network, persons in your industry and recruiters.
• Email recruiters with news, updates, send resume and follow up.
• Schedule 15 – 30 minute  “informational” or “scoping” calls.
• 30 minute with your career or life coach - keeps you track and accountable.

Ask for help – seek out advice from professionals

You would be amazed at how generous people are with their professional advice. Recently career coach Susan Goldberg, Susan Goldberg Executive Search Consulting, was kind enough to speak to me for 30 minutes and give me some amazing perspective regarding my own job search, here is some of her advice.

5 Tips to Follow (if you are truly serious about your job search).

1. Never waste your time sending an email or resume unless you have a specific individual to send it to, otherwise follow-up is next to impossible. 
2. Don’t bother sending a resume or an email unless you plan on following it up with a phone-call. Otherwise, it indicates that you are not interested. 
3. Be remembered after an informational interview, be gracious, offer to help the person who is meeting with you and make the offer as specific as possible.
4. Always leave an informational interview with other names to contact.  Ask at the end of a meeting, for specific people to contact so that you can further expand your network, be ready.
5. Never leave an interview without knowing what the next steps of the hiring process will be. It will keep some of the control of the hiring process in your hands and the asking itself will make you feel more confident and self-assured in leaving what can be an anxiety provoking experience.  (If you haven’t been told what next steps are to be taken, ask.  

Focus, re-evaluate, re-group = tweak, tweak, tweak 

Take jobseekers who send out hundreds, sometimes thousands of resumes, and never get any results. In any other context this would merit a change in approach, but they just keep sending out more resumes. This tough job market makes it even more important to stop the mindless application-mailing and analyze what isn’t working – because the problem might be devastatingly simple.
~ Priscilla Claman President of Career Strategies, Inc.

During the last 4 months I have redone my resume at least 6 times – and these tweaks involve heavy thinking and introspection on my part. I have been lucky to have had lot’s of help along the way, ask your friends and network for help – sometimes it’s hard to remember your accomplishments.  

Try using the STAR Key Achievements as a guideline.

• Situation, describe the situation
• Task or Target, what were the initial targets, goals or objectives
• Action, what you did to achieve that target
• Result, what were the results using specifics and measurements (if possible, otherwise rounds numbers or percentages)

And finally…..

• Be Assertive and Proactive
• Be clear
• Tell everyone in your network about your job search 
• Maintain a detailed record of all the jobs you have applied to, including communications, interviews, referrals, and follow-up actions. 
• Networking should be at the center of your job search strategy
• Get to go out there and make it happen.
• Be clear on what you want and need, you’re on your way to getting it.
• Be kind to yourself … it takes time and dedication to find the right fit.

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Entrepreneurs are arguably the most important actors in our economy—the creators of new wealth and new jobs, the inventors of new products and services, and the revolutionizers of society and the economy
~ Lesa Mitchell, VP of advancing innovation at the Kauffman Foundation.

I have been reading a great deal recently on how small business and entrepreneurship is the potential savior of our US economy. Economist will agree that older established companies DO NOT hold the promise of job creation or a renewed and revived economy, but instead the next bright new companies.

Venture capitalist will tell you that EVERYONE is on the lookout for the next “Gazelle” or fast growing start-up with the potential of becoming the next Google or Apple. But in between the “Giants” and the “Gazelles”, lies a whole territory of smaller companies that also help to fuel the economy not only by job creation but by private wealth creation, smaller companies from yoga studios to e-commerce web portals.

How important is entrepreneurship to the US economy?

This is where the jobs are, not at General Motors. It is about creating new companies, new industries, not propping up behemoths
~ John Harthorne, a co-founder of MassChallenge

The US Government has identified entrepreneurs as an important key to turning the economy around, and in January of this year The White House helped launch the Startup America Partnership. This is an independent, private-sector entity partnership between the US Government and private equity. The US Government is committed to matching funds in this venture to encourage the creation of new startups, with a principal focus on supporting existing firms who could become “Gazelles”.

How do Women entrepreneurs stack up?

As the chart above from the Kaufman Foundation indicates, not so great. In fact, American Express OPEN report for 2011 found that just 1.8 percent of women-owned firms had revenues of more than $1 million, while men-owned firms was 6.3 percent. 

In the new study by the Kaufman Foundation, OVERCOMING THE GENDER GAP: WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AS ECONOMIC DRIVERS, has shown that although nearly half of the workforce and more than half of our college students are women, their lag in building high-growth firms has become a major economic deficit.

Facts about women startups:

• Average revenue of men’s firms was $120,000 versus about $60,000 for women. 
• Women owned firms account for 29% of all enterprises.
• Women-owned firms only employ 6% of the country’s workforce and contribute just under 4% of business revenues . 
• WOMEN ONLY account for 35 % of the people who start a businesses.

Estimated that there are over 8.1million women-owned businesses in the US, generating nearly $1 .3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7 .7 million people – IMAGINE THE UNTAPPED ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS!!! 

We must consider fostering women’s entrepreneurship as an economic issue, not a gender-equity based issue. Simply put – we are missing a BIG chunk of this country’s educated brainpower. 

OK great, but what kind of support is there out there?

Business incubators are service programs, not buildings,” “No building can grow companies, provide mentoring and handholding, and assist an emerging company in meeting the benchmarks necessary for growth.
~ Dinah Adkins, president and CEO of the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA). 

Besides the SBA and the Startup America Partnership, consider joining an incubator or accelerator program in your area, according to Bloomberg Businessweek there are about 50 accelerators altogether seeking more than 500 startups for their programs this year, and surprisingly not all of these are for the tech sector.  Studies show that start-up ventures that graduate from an incubation or accelerator program have a success rate of 87%, compared to 44% for all other firms. 

Here are 20 incubators and accelerator programs in the US. This list is in no particular order or ranking. In order to figure out the best fit, do your research and talk to to people about their experiences during the program and ask for success, funding figures for the overall program and finally what will their stake be in your company and how will they help you with management.

1. Astia, Astia offers programs for women run high-growth start-ups.
2. Women 2.0 – Pitch, not a traditional incubator.
3. West Enterprise Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
4. Mi Kitchen es su Kitchen,  New York, N.Y. focused on food businesses.
5. DreamIt Ventures, Philadelphia, PA
6. Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, Atlanta, GA
7. Launch Pad Ignition, New Orleans, LA
8. SENO – Social entrepreneurship, New Orleans, LA
9. TechStars, accelerators (Boston, Boulder, New York City, and Seattle )
10. MassChallenge, Boston, MA
11.  Y Combinator, Silicon Valley, CA
12. NYC SeedStart, New York, NY
13. Santa Fe Business Incubator, Santa Fe, NM
14. Accelerator Corp., Seattle, WA – biotech startups
15. Long Island High Technology Incubator, Stony Brook, NY
16. The Shoals Entrepreneurial Center - Florence, AL
17. Innovation Depot, Birmingham, AL
18. LaunchBox Digital, Washington, DC
19. Metro Tech, Oklahoma City, OK For Latino entrepreneurs.
20. Plug and Play Tech Center, Sunnyvale, CA 

These incubator and accelerators are the promise of growing new businesses, as traditional Venture Capital is becoming scarcer. Consider that there were fewer initial public offerings of firms backed by venture capitalists than in any year since 1985, and that the proportion of IPOs worth less than $50m has plunged to 20% in the past decade. This matters, because according to the National Venture Capital Association over 90% of job creation by venture-backed firms occurs after they go public. 

With few answers on how to turn this economic mess around, we must consider how to foster the entrepreneurial sector, specifically the untapped economics of women entrepreneurs. 

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