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

Maria Botta — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:53:45 +0000

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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Some of the Best LISTS of 2011

Maria Botta — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:17:52 +0000

In that weird time between Christmas and the start of the next year, I love reviewing the year. My 2011 has been quite remarkable, I accomplished many goals and ticked off a few things on my bucket list, including graduating from Thunderbird in Europe, attending Sundance, visiting India and Germany – and overall, just had a wonderful time of travel, friends, and family throughout.

Now it’s time to read the Top and Best of lists for the year, and as 2011 winds to an end, and we start to get a peek at 2012, it’s time to review what 2011 brought us…. and some of the lists it has spawned.

Here is a list of some of the Best Of lists of 2011 that I have found… I would LOVE to hear some of yours!

So the Myan calendar ends in 2012. So what? My calendar ends in December. I just buy a new one. ~ Mr. Youngblood Geography teacher

And in 2012, pending that the world won’t end, here are some interesting lists of things to look forward to.

Now as I am thinking ahead to 2012, making my resolutions, planning, strategizing and imagining what the year ahead may bring… I wish you all an amazing 2012.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Doing what you love – just like Andy Rooney

Maria Botta — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:12 +0000

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.

This video contains (mostly) adult language

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?

Is there something you already love doing, a hobby?
Care about your self first – figure out what you love and then do it.
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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Occupy your mind – An opportunity to create change?

Maria Botta — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:00:10 +0000

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…..

The “Occupy” movement is a wake up call to American business.
It is an escape valve for those who have had to endure this crisis on their backs.
Protesting is a way to generate change – we need it in order to save the middle class.
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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Where are the opportunities in the “New Normal” economy

Maria Botta — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:25 +0000

The business landscape has changed fundamentally; tomorrow’s environment will be different, but no less rich in possibilities for those who are prepared. McKinsey & Company, worldwide (former) Managing Director, Ian Davis

A lesson from the (original) Great Depression – opportunities always exist!

Many years ago, I heard a story of a man who became a millionaire during the (original) Great Depression. This banker had lost his fortune and had watched many of his friends capitulate to the circumstances. Faced with unemployment he learned a trade and became a tile layer, he eventually worked his way back up, and was hired to work on the the construction of the Holland Tunnel in New York and got the contract to supply the tiles for the inside of the tunnel….. in the process regaining his wealth.

The Great Depression was a terrible time for many, some would compare today’s economy and the Nation’s battered spirit to that time. I have thought about this story many times lately, and the lesson. In the US, there are always opportunities to make money in ANY economy, you just have to have a little vision and be prepared to grab them.

Your own “Reinvention plan”

The lesson of this story was one of the influences that propelled me to make one of the boldest moves in my life – going back to school to get my MBA in Global Management at Thunderbird. This was part of my “personal reinvention plan” which was spurned by the reality that the industry I had worked in had changed dramatically due to advances in technology, and a bad economy, and that the skills I had carefully honed and the network I had cultivated for over 20 years of my career had (almost) been rendered irrelevant. This was a scary and expensive move, but I am confident that it will pay off over time….

It’s wise to devise your own “personal reinvention plan”, even if you are currently employed and happily doing your job. In this era of the “new economy” you must NOT be complacent or tied to old thinking, and processes. This trap can become the “concrete shoes” that will weigh you down and may eventually sink your career.

As a job seeker, what I am finding more and more, are that the larger companies are:

Full of “Scared Managers” – terrified that they may loose their jobs. This fear leads to ineffective second guessing every move, and sticking to old tried and true ways.
“Confused” because they don’t know how to define themselves in this new economy – lot’s of “analysis paralysis” happening.
Companies are giving lots of “lip service” to “entrepreneurial spirit” and innovation” within their organizations – but not fostering this behavior or hiring the right kinds of people to develop this kind of culture.

These are MAJOR ISSUES in today’s business environment, that will deeply affect organizations ability to survive and thrive in the long run. Be careful if you are currently employed in one of these organizations. Ask yourself, is my company really poised to thrive in this “New Normal”?

Where are the opportunities?

Now Apple is like the rest of the US – they have no Jobs

With an alarming ZERO NEW JOBS in August and with 14 million people (reported) currently unemployed, and the President’s announcement of the $447b Job Plan…. Where are the good jobs???? The fact is that most lost jobs are being replaced with lower paying jobs. Still there are some industry sectors that are making gains in good paying jobs.

Green collar Jobs: According to, “Sizing the Green Economy” – “The clean economy, which employs some 2.7 million workers, encompasses a significant number of jobs in establishments spread across a diverse group of industries.”

Consulting - Management and technical consulting services reached a record high in August.
Health Care – Elderly Services, Therapy, Home Health Care, Mental Health Services, Outpatient Care, Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories, Physician’s Offices and Administration, Optometric and Dental Services, Chiropractors.
Internet Hosting and Publishing.
IT - Hardware and software.
Retail - Brick and mortar retail stores and e-commerce.
Administrative and Customer Services.
Software Publishing.
Education Support Services.
Passenger Transportation (air and land).
Daycare (juvenile and adult).
Writers and Artists.

Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin. And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven’t. So for everyone who speaks so passionately about making life easier for “job creators”, this plan is for you. ~ President Barack Obama, 9/8/11

The news today about jobs and employment picture is no doubt scary and daunting but there are some good stories to tell. Consider this - 28 million small businesses employ 57% of the country’s private workforce, and 60 to 80% of all new jobs come from small businesses. It is expected that job growth will continue to come from this healthy sector.

It’s a Brave New World

Business in the US and much of the world isn’t as “usual”, we will probably never go back to the pre-recession time and the reality is, we must adapt to the “new normal”. Today, we need more than ever to hone that good old fashioned American ingenuity, create new opportunities, because we can no longer rely on the comfort of the corporate giants.

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Sexonomics – women should use their looks in the workplace

Maria Botta — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:44:16 +0000

“Go home, take a paper bag, cut some eyeholes out of it. Put it over your head, get undressed and look at yourself in the mirror. Really evaluate where your strengths and weaknesses are. And be honest.” Mad Men, Joan Holloway

Sexonomics ?

I am NOT talking about the oldest profession in the world here, (although I am sure that is a profession where there is pay parity for women). I am talking about sexual capital in the workplace, as defined by Catherine Hakim, a professor at the prestigious London School of Economics and author of “Erotic Capital: The Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and the Bedroom”. She explains that “sexonomics” is the sexual allure that people use as a commodity for profit and professional advancement just as they would use education or their network. Hakim explains that the “male sex deficit,” is something that women should leverage often in order to attain career advancement or a wedding ring.

Sexy in the workplace?

As the pendulum is sure to swing – are we starting to see a time where women will no longer be repressed in the workplace and be able to flaunt their sexuality and femininity without the repercussions of being labeled as “prissy”, “distracting” or worse yet suffer unwanted sexual advances…. I sure hope so!

The TV character “Joan Harris” on Mad Men – reminds me of the very good lessons that the legendary Ariel Allen, VP Creative Services, Global Advertising at Colgate-Palmolive taught me very early on in my career - Always apply lipstick before and sometimes during a meeting, and touch up your make-up before going to battle in the boardroom.

She was not only brilliant, sharp, fearless and a no bullshit kind of lady, but she was also beautiful, and never missed an opportunity to show the world. She was completely contrary to what I had learned in college – we where taught that to be non-sexual was important, by not wearing heels or showing cleavage, we could level the playing field and be equal to men (needless to say that spawned a number of very poor wardrobe choices, including wearing those stupid tie things in the 80’s……)

If I could go back, I would have been bolder and sexier in the workplace and used my looks and youth to get ahead! (my apologies to Gloria Steinem) Especially in light of a recent British report, which states that women will not reach pay equality for 100 years!!!! Ladies, we need every advantage we can get!

But not every woman would agree with this – there are those feminist like Steinem, that took up the fight to give women the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that guarantees “equal pay” under the law - which to this day still does not exist, AND we work twice as hard for our pay - what’s equal about that? In fact women ONLY make .77 cents to each dollar that men make,and it decreases significantly for minorities.

“The world today is vastly different than it was in 1983, but sadly, one thing that has remained the same is the pay gap between men and women….. If this continues, the only guarantees in life will be death, taxes and the glass ceiling” US Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York

Should we use our looks in the workplace – Hell Yes!!!!!

Consider these statistics

Women’s wages have increased just half a penny on the dollar for the past four decades.
Women earn less than men consistently in all industries and occupation groups surveyed by the US Census Bureau.
According to the GAO (General Accountability Office) Report GAO-04-35, weekly full time earnings for women where about three-fourths of men in 2011.
Men with children generally get a pay boost, while women loose earnings.

Consistent with this information is a 2008 study by University of Chicago sociologist Kristen Schilt and NYU economist Matthew Wiswall “Before and After: Gender Transitions, Human Capital, and Workplace Experiences”, people who underwent a sex change – men who transitioned to women earned, on average, 32% less post surgery, women who became men, earned 1.5% more.

What to do???

I say embrace your inner “Chonga” and get yourself to Banana Republic where you can outfit yourself in fetching 60′s fashions like “Joanie” from Mad Men….. walk into your office, with a beautifully made up face, head held high in a tight dress, push up bra (don’t forget the Spanx) while balancing on your 5 inch leopard stilettos, sashay into your bosses office, lean over his desk and get that promotion or pay raise that your male colleague already has!!!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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YOUR personal image is part of YOUR personal brand

Maria Botta — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:27:14 +0000

We’ve come a long way. Power dressing now is designed to let the woman inside us come through.
Donna Karan

Recently I was at a business meeting with professional women, all at the top of their respective fields. We where working on some reinvention ideas, everyone was excited to be there. Many of us did not know each other, but we where all equally committed to accomplish our goal for the meeting. I always enjoy these situations and hope to learn from my peers. At the very beginning of the meeting, however, there was one woman, who was really throwing me off…. so I stepped back in order to figure it out, WHY was I tuning her out ????

I’m sorry but the old adage doesn’t work – people still “judge a book by it’s cover”

Then….. I had THE AHA moment….. The woman in question looked liked she had been rolling around in dirt and her clothes where ill fitting (so we got a good view of her undergarments (if you are gonna show them – make sure they look good… and by all means CLEAN!). She was a mess! The reality was, I couldn’t get past her appearance to hear what she had to contribute – shame on me, I know.

The way you see people is the way you treat them.
Zig Ziglar

I know we are not supposed to judge people based on looks, upon further analysis I noted; her messiness to me meant she didn’t bring her “A” game, if she couldn’t bother to brush her hair and put on a decent outfit – she didn’t care to be there – and BTW, all the other ladies looked fabulous (with varying degrees of style from polished designer to funky vintage, etc… you get the idea)……..I am by no means suggesting that anyone should go and spend their monthly mortgage money to dress in couture like a Kardashian. It would be nice, but not necessary. During Grad School I learned the fine art of budget shopping and have acquired a very stylish wardrobe, for a very modest price.

Your personal image is part of your personal brand – do you reflect your brand?

This got me thinking….YOUR Personal public image is critical, because it is a part of your Personal Branding. This is so important, but yet we underestimated the impact it has on how WE/OUR BRAND is perceived.

I asked Dan Schawbel, Author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success and “Personal Branding Guru” to answer a few questions regarding Personal Branding.

How important is having a polished Personal public image to your personal brand? It’s mandatory in an age where your Google search results are your new resume. If you don’t have an online brand that communicate who you are, what you do, and who you do it for, then you will get lost in a sea of clutter.

You always say that “Consistency is key”, is this also true on how we dress and present ourselves in professional settings? You should be consistent in everything you do from selecting a single headshot of yourself for all of your online channels to your clothing and even the colors you use on your business card and website. The more consistent you are, the more you will be remembered and be able to create a brand promise to your audience.

What do you think about the old saying “always leave the house dressed for success”, and how does what you wear matter to your brand? We are all judged based on the perception of what we wear, how we behave, and who we associate ourselves with. If you don’t take care of yourself, people will notice, and it will create a negative brand perception that wont go away.

I don’t know about you, when I look good, I am confident

People tend to respond in a more positive way, to someone who is dressed well, one would think that the idea of making a positive impression is common sense, but I see disheveled looking people everywhere. The airport is my favorite place to spot these….you should always look good because you never know when you might make an important connection – for business or personally. Last year I got an upgrade because the ticket agent really liked my dress – true story!!!!

Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW, has put together some solid guidelines in “If you want to be successful, dress the part”

I do differ with Ms Kennedy and many other recruiters on the suit issue – in a creative businesses, you would run the risk of being judged as stodgy or a “suit” if you wore a “suit”. Wear what is appropriate in your field. In the creative field there is rarely a taboo on tattoos or piercing, but you would be immediately discarded as a serious candidate if you showed either of these during an interview in a financial or legal field. Again, assess what is appropriate, ask others if you have doubts.

Making sure you look professional online too

Make sure that the photos that are associated with your professional and public profiles are consistent with your image and branding. Your LinkedIn profile should not be accompanied by an embarrassing photo of you at your bacholorete party.

Make a choice and Decide HOW you want to be viewed

This has been very important to me during my own reinvention. It’s something that is an ongoing process. How can I show intelligence, leadership and confidence while being feminine.

During my years of working as a Producer I had the advantage of working with top fashion stylists and designers who taught me a thing or two – one of the most important is to create your unique “look” by cluing in to current fashion trends AND your personal style ICONS, and always make sure that the look suits you. And if you can’t manage to do it yourself enroll the help of people who know you well or finally get an image consultant – it is well worth the money!

There is a lesson here, no matter where you are, if you are in a professional setting or even meeting someone for coffee, and you want to be taken seriously, try to have some put together style, (men and women) – and this can mean many things – from great t-shirt and jeans to stylish high end designer clothing - it doesn’t mean everyone should wear a suit. Whatever your style “own it and make it part of your personal brand!”

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Re-thinking your job search strategy – because of ageism

Maria Botta — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:47:41 +0000

From birth to age 18, a girl needs good parents. From 18 to 35, she needs good looks. From 35 to 55, she needs a good personality. From 55 on, she needs good cash.
~ Sophie Tucker

How do you handle ageism during career reinvention? I say NO!

As part of my career reinvention I went to Grad school and am now, like many other grads, on the job hunt.

Recently, I was told by a respected recruiter that I was too “experienced” to present to her clients. While she was very clever and PC, I know that meant code for “too old”. Generally, I would say hey I AM NOT OLD, AND I only need one great opportunity – there is one out there just for me. But I have to admit this time it got to me …….and I am re-thinking….

Ageism is making me re-think my job strategy

At first this really pissed me off – but in retrospect this recruiter did me a favor;

This new reality made me re-think my job strategy.
Re-evaluate the kind of organization I might join.
Re-adjust some expectations.
Think of alternatives – like starting my own company if I cannot find the right fit.
Ask recruiters about their views on age…..and their clients.

Undeniably, ageism is a serious issue facing job seekers today, and although the practice is still illegal, it is nearly impossible to prove in the hiring process, (honestly who has time to file a complaint when you are looking for a job) and it is rampant. In fact complaints of age discrimination with the EEOC have risen dramatically this last quarter, and currently one of BNET’s most popular posts complaints are about age discrimination in hiring practices. This used to be an issue that only affected the 55+ crowd but with the tough job market younger workers 40+ are now equally impacted. In fact, Men typically suffer age discrimination in their mid-50s, while this happens to women almost 10 years before in their 40′s.

Does this makes sense?

Corporate ageism really doesn’t make sense in the light of:

The median age in the US is 35.
We are an aging population with most of us right in the middle
Most people are much better leaders as we age – no doubt there are a few “Alexander the Greats” out there – but overall we learn and grow and get better.
You get more bang for the buck with older employees who have cred, experience and maturity.
Why does chronological age matter in the hiring practice? It’s not like I need special equipment or help getting around, in fact I am in good physical shape.

Re-thinking how I look……

Nature gives you the face you have at twenty, but it’s up to you to merit the face you have at 50.
~ Coco Chanel

Ageism is an unfortunate bi-product of the US culture, which venerates the young, while showing disdain for the more “experienced” types like myself.

People do not generally guess my age, and when they do it’s usually younger – I do not act, look, speak, dress or feel “my age”. I keep current, and with a recent MBA in Global Management from Thunderbrid – my education and leadership skills are top notch and very relevant.

OK I WILL ADMIT IT, even though I look fine, this has made me reconsider how I look to others, and I am considering cosmetic procedures that will make me look younger (not 20) and fresher (as a single woman this brings up all kinds of insecurities beyond the job search)….I guess the comforting news is that I am not alone, today women account for 91% of ALL cosmetic procedures in the US.

Some ideas…… re-thinking the job search…..

I am going to look for companies that can be “a good fit” for me both in culture, and age attitudes.
Look at companies that currently lack real “senior” management, due to transition as a potential opportunity.
Pitch my expertise and experience, and offer consulting services to younger entrepreneurs/companies who may lack depth in their management team.
Look at companies that service the baby boomer market.
Simplyhired has a great tool Search Jobs at Age 50+ Friendly Companies.
Revise the words on my resume – I had no idea but I was using some outdated phrases like “team player,” “trustworthy,” “problem solver”, “proven”, “relevant” “innovative”, Extensive experience”, these really didn’t work anymore. Focus on actual career accomplishments and milestones.
Listen to people – recruiters, hiring managers and friends ask for feedback to tweak.
Paper resume, no way! I have one that I use for recruiters who insist, but I created a visual resume – and that has given me an edge Visual Resume http://bit.ly/nCvxJR
Leverage your social media networks – communicate your job search on LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, and Twitter, Webgrrls, and don’t forget to brag about your Klout!
Don’t lie or mislead about your age by omitting information – I had taken out my undergraduate graduation date – a recruiter strongly advised me to add it back.
Keep at it everyday – I set a goal to research, find, and send out my credentials to at least 10 potential employers.
Network – there can’t be enough said about this. Today I had a casual conversation with a friend, whom I had forgotten is related to a very powerful guy in the advertising biz – immediately she offered to get my information into his hands directly.
Pay it forward – I often hear of other opportunities that are not a good fit for me, but if I know of someone, I always hook them up.

To stay positive and inspired, here are some fun facts I have found about “older women”.

Right before she turned 50, Katie Couric became the first female solo anchor of a US national evening news show.
Julia Child published “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” after the age of 50.
At 57, Diane Keaton produced “Something’s Gotta Give” where she played the love interest to 39-year-old Keanu Reeves.
At 61, actress Susan Sarandon is still the American prototype for the sexy older woman, a title she claimed in her 40s.
Bethenny Frankel 40+ sold Skinnygirl drink line for a reported $100 m.
Arianna Huffington 60 created and sold the Huffington Post for $315m.

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Enter to Win Full Pass to Blog World Expo 2009 in Las Vegas

Nelly Yusupova — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:40:33 +0000

Webgrrls International often receives tickets to industry events and we have three FREE Weekend passes to attend the Blog World Expo in Las Vegas that we want to offer to our members. The dates for the Conference are October 16-17. The value of each pass is $495.

If you are interested in the opportunity to attend the conference, please let us know by clicking on this link and entering your name and membership id. You must be a member to participate…so, if you are not a Webgrrls member or your membership is not current, please Join or Renew your membership now.

We will randomly determine who receives the ticket for the conference at 3:00PM on August 21. Please note that if you are selected, you will be responsible for your flight and hotel accommodations and other personal expenses.

See Conference Overview
Enter to win

Also, all Webgrrls are eligible to receive a 20% discount to attend the event. Be sure to enter discount code: WGVIP when registering.

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BlogHer ’09: The Geek Lab Sessions

Nelly Yusupova — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:02:04 +0000

Photo by veesees on Flickr

“Wow! I now know how to solve the issue with my site!” Is exactly what I like to hear as an instructor…knowing that someone is connecting with the information that I am sharing. So, I was thrilled when I heard that exclaimed from the back of the room in one of my sessions.

I had the privilege of teaching four sessions at the BlogHer ’09 conference this year. I was slated for three: HTML for bloggers, PHP for bloggers, and Apache and was asked to conduct a fourth when the original presenter of the htaccess session had an emergency come up and couldn’t make the session.

Each year the BlogHer conferences get better and better and each year they are getting geekier and geekier…hmmm, I wonder if there is a correlation. As a true geek, I would have to say “of course”. I have been on the BlogHer Tech Committee since 2006 and I am happy to see the progression of geekiness at the BlogHer events.

This year, all of the technical sessions were called “Geek Labs” and were focused on providing quick hands-on tutorials on many topics surrounding blogging and were for those bloggers who wanted to get their hands a little dirty and find out what’s under the hood.

This being a blogging conference, I was concerned that no one would show up to my sessions but to my surprise, I had full rooms for the HTML and PHP sessions and a goodly crowd at the other two more technical sessions. It really continues to show a real need and strong desire of many of the attendees to understand more about technology and learn the skills they need to help them succeed as they adopt the tools that will make them more efficient in their efforts.

Watch Wren from Wrenassaince & Jill from scarymommy.com share their Geek Lab experiences in these short videos.

Also, check out the recaps from Virgina Debolt & Liz Henry, who taught some of the other Geek Lab sessions.

Thank you to all who attended the Geek Labs this year and I hope to see you all again next year at the BlogHer ‘10 conference in New York City. If you have any suggestions on Geek sessions for BlogHer ’10, please let me know and I will be sure to pass them on to the BlogHer team.

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