Professional Dress

Check out this review of the 2012 Conference by one of our attendees (also a sponsor)!

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:16:46 -0500

Check out this review of the 2012 Conference by one of our attendees (also a sponsor)!

2011 Terry Professional Women's Panelist Recognized as a Top 10 Global Leader in Human Resources

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:43:00 -0400

2011 Terry Professional Women's Panelist Recognized as a Top 10 Global Leader in Human Resources

UGA is ranked 4th in Smart Money's ranking of colleges as a ratio of cost vs. potential earnings!

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:11:32 -0400

UGA is ranked 4th in Smart Money's ranking of colleges as a ratio of cost vs. potential earnings!

The Lemonade Stand Millionaire: How to Teach Kids About Money the Right Way

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 19:23:52 -0400

…and now for a post on parenting from a woman who knows. Tara Doker balances two kids, her own business and a full time job with apparent ease (although I know it can’t be easy). Below, she shares some insight into how to turn a simple childhood pastime into a teaching moment about macro and personal finance.

If you ran a business and did not have to pay for the product you sold, I imagine you would be living the good life and have earned a spot on the Forbes wealthiest list. What do you think Apple’s annual profits would rise to if they got all those IPhones, tablets and computers for free only to re-sell them for the full amount? If only life was so simple. Well, since real life does not operate like that, why would we expect our children to learn anything by operating in such an environment?

It all started with a simple lemonade stand my son wanted to set-up. Off to the store we went and bought lemonade mix, cookies, cups, napkins and more. His stand was a raving success as a hot day combined with a sweet smile is a perfect marketing tool. His take for the afternoon was over $25. I could have let my 4 year old take that and run and I would have been very proud that he earned money by working for it. Or, I could take it to the next level and deduct the supplies from his gross income which would have still earned him over $12. This was the perfect opportunity to teach him not only about earning money and working but about financial skills in general. Very few parents I know would actually deduct the supplies. The problem is that they seem to stop teaching at the profits and having the child work for the money is “good enough” in their eyes. Here’s the problem with that approach: we are doing a disservice to our children by not preparing them early to be financially savvy.

Teach Your Kids Through the Use of Cash, Not Credit

Recently, Forbes posted an article about “How to Raise Financially Savvy Kids.” In it, there are some great suggestions including how to talk to you kids about money. The article mentions that kids are more likely to do as you do versus do what you say. Mary Hunt, personal finance expert and author of recently released Raising Financially Confident Kids, offers up tips such as using cash instead of credit cards. “Cash is very visual, clear cut and not confusing, “she says. We have increasingly become a credit using society so people may have difficulty accepting this. But stop and think about how a child may perceive what a credit card actually is. To them, it is a square piece of plastic that you present and magically a store lets you take whatever you want.

Needs Vs. Wants and Why

Another key topic is understanding needs and wants. It can be difficult to not give in to every just-for-fun whim or request your child makes, especially if it is something small. However, if you do have the self-control to resist these purchases, you should be aware of the language you use in explaining your reason. Hunt warns against saying “We can’t afford it.” A child could interpret that as “we’re poor” and that could cause anxiety. Instead she suggests saying, “We choose not to spend our money that way.” Another solution to the constant stream of “can you buy me this?” would be to institute an allowance system. Hunt believes that giving children an allowance is one of the best ways for them to learn how to handle money on their own. She suggests starting at age six and recommends $1 per week for each year of their age. Having their own money teaches them about making good choices, budgeting, saving and consequences of bad decisions. It also reinforces the understanding of using cash referenced earlier. We recently began this system at our house with $5 per week for our 6 year old. It has had immediate success and I am impressed with how quickly my son is learning to budget his funds and think through his spending decisions. He even saw how he could combine his money from the tooth fairy (“a bonus”) with his allowance for the week to balance a larger purchase.

Why is This On-going Discussion Important?

It’s our job to constantly teach our kids how to intelligently and responsibility handle money. We should not be making decisions in light of our desire to be nice or be their best friend. In the case of my son’s lemonade stand, he went to the store with me to purchase the supplies, he saw the money exchange hands and he understood that those supplies were bought with my money and he needed to pay me back. Had I not enforced this, I would have created a future “Lemonade Stand Millionaire” who grows up to falsely believe that a product is given to you free of charge in life to resell. I could not have asked for a better teaching event!

Tara Doker received her BBA in Finance from Georgia State University and her MBA from Kennesaw State University. She spent over 10 years in corporate finance for companies such as Cinnabon and McDonald’s, specializing in financial planning and analysis in a franchise environment. After the birth of her first child, she made the decision to be a stay at home Mom. During this time, she made use of her business skills and opened her own franchise, Sweet & Sassy (www.sweetandsassy.com) in Atlanta. In addition, she is currently working as a technology solutions consultant for Technisource. Tara and her Husband live in Atlanta with their two children, ages 6 and 2 years old.

"To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:03:55 -0400

““To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.””

- Anita Roddick, founder of widely popular Body Shop stores

Atlanta Children’s Shelter Celebrates Achievers

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:17:00 -0400

Previous Professional Dress contributor Sandra Keating of the Atlanta Children’s Shelter is at it again, with the Shelter’s upcoming 10th Annual Achievers Celebration.

ATLANTA, September 4, 2012 – The Atlanta Children’s Shelter (ACS) will host its 10th Annual Achievers Celebration on Thursday, September 27th, at 6:30 pm at the Renaissance Midtown. The evening of celebration will begin with a private reception and silent auction and will also include dinner, awards, and personal stories of success from each of its Achievers. Jocelyn Dorsey from WSBTV will be the Mistress of Ceremonies. As a former ACS board member, Ms. Dorsey knows about the wonderful programs the Shelter provides and how important it is to honor these families who have worked so diligently to provide a home for their children.

ACS is a leading homeless service provider for metropolitan Atlanta. Founded in 1986, the focus of ACS is to stabilize homeless families with young children. In the past 26 years, the Atlanta Children’s Shelter has cared for almost 8,000 homeless children and provided services for more than 5,000 homeless families. Six formerly homeless families will be honored at the Annual Achiever’s Celebration. These parents who are the 2012 Achievers have persevered and — with the support of ACS programs an services — have been able to maintain employment and permanent housing for their family for one year as they strive for self-sufficiency.

The price per ticket is $100. Sponsorship Opportunities are available. For more information please contact Christie Smith at csmith@acsatl.org.

About the Atlanta Children’s Shelter

Founded in 1986, the Atlanta Children’s Shelter (www.acsatl.org) provides free, quality day care, emotional support, and an educational curriculum for homeless children, plus focused social services for their families. Dedicated to helping families overcome the issues that contribute to homelessness, including domestic violence and job loss, the Atlanta Children’s Shelter focuses on the long term self-sufficiency of the family.

Atlanta Children’s Shelter
607 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404.892.3713
Fax: 404.892.8947
Website: www.acsatl.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AtlantaChildrensShelter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ATLChildren

Media contact:
Name: Sandra Keating, ACS Executive Director
Phone: 404-892-3713
Email: skeating@acsatl.org

Guest Post: Yvette Dupree on Increasing your Personal Power

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:40:00 -0400

Power, some people have it and others want it. Forbes recently released their list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Womenwhich highlightswomen such as First Lady Michelle Obama and IBM’s Chief Executive Officer Virginia Rometty. “Power is the capacity or potential to influence” (Northouse). Power equals influence, which gives a person the ability to affect the attitudes, beliefs, and actions of others. Research shows that people who have power are: likable, knowledgeable, and/or possess status or job authority. Being powerful means feeling able to determine your destiny and having a sense of control over your life and its direction (Kouzes & Posner). Powerful people know how to mobilize support and resources for their objectives. You don’t have to be rich or famous to be powerful.

How do you increase your power? Here are some ways to increase your personal power quotient:

1- Be visible. Manage your professional presence this includes your appearance, behavior, and communication. Tout your successes to ensure that people know your strengths, platform, and areas of expertise. Work hard in public and in private to build a reputation for getting things done. Get involved in organizations within your community by volunteering, helping on a campaign, or serving on nonprofit boards.

2- Be a person of excellence and integrity. Endeavor to be the best version of yourself, that women that you always wanted to be and the one you would like to have as a friend, role model, or mentor. Be excellent because excellence matters. Be honest, reliable, and do what you say you are going to do even when it’s inconvenient.

3- Have a plan and focus on your priorities. Define your life’s mission and focus on your passion. Direct all of your activities to fulfill your mission. Determine specific goals; write them down and track your progress.

As you press toward your goals, help others along the way. If you focus on self-improvement you become someone people will follow. But power can only be determined based on how you affect others.

4- Be others focused. Enrich the lives of others. Mentor and empower those around you to become more knowledgeable, confident, and successful. Search for the best in others, encourage and nurture their gifts, and empower them for success. Don’t just praise your employees or those under your leadership. People at every level need support. One thing many people forget as they reach their goals is to help others succeed; this creates a win-win.

5- Consider your relationships. Create a support team comprised of experienced professionals, thought leaders, and career strategists to serve as your own personal board of directors. Your board members should advise, mentor, and advocate for you. Seek out individuals that can assist you in different ways to fulfill your mission, and listen and learn from them. They will become champions for you and this will provide you with new opportunities.

Working well with others is essential in today’s work place. Follow the Golden Rule, and always treat others with respect and kindness, by doing this you create goodwill for yourself.

6- Be positive. You will need a positive attitude to fulfill your goals and to press on as problems arise.

Do good and use your powers for good. Even if you have power because of your position, use it to make people and the organizations you belong to better, more effective, and efficient. When you concentrate on others you will earn their respect and improve your relationships.

If you purpose to do these things, you will boost your self-confidence, effectiveness, and automatically your personal power increases. Being powerful doesn’t mean making the Forbes list of Women Who Run the World it means being your best self and making a difference in the lives of those you come in contact with.

Yvette T. Dupree is a doctoral candidate in the department of Workforce Education at The University of Georgia. She is passionate about issues related to education, career, and leadership. Yvette is a certified marketing and business education teacher who continues to contribute to career and technical education as she completes her graduate studies. Ms. Dupree was recently recognized as Educator of the Year by the Georgia Marketing Education Association (GMEA). She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2003 and Master of Arts in Teaching in Occupational Studies in 2007 from The University of Georgia. Ms. Dupree is an active community leader, volunteer, and a 2012 graduate of Leadership Clayton sponsored by the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Dupree is a member of several civic, professional, and honorary organizations including, The Junior League of Atlanta, Georgia Association of Career and Technical Education, the American Marketing Association, and Omicron Tau Theta Graduate Honor Society.

Follow Yvette Dupree on Twitter @yvettedupree

Photo

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:56:36 -0400

Dana Brownlee on How to Deal with Difficult Meeting...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:50:00 -0400

Dana Brownlee on How to Deal with Difficult Meeting Attendees, Part Two

Dana Brownlee on How to Deal with Difficult Meeting Attendees, Part One

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:57:00 -0400

On August 17, 2012, Dana Brownlee spoke to GLOW (Gwinnett Leadership Organization for Women) attendees about tactical approaches to dealing with the classic three worst meeting attendees. Dana founded Professionalism Matters, Inc. after several years in the corporate world and her specific suggestions are sure to be invaluable in making your meetings more productive and less frustrating.

So what are the three “dysfunctional” behaviors?

1) The Slacker: They never complete their action items; often they’re late to meetings; and they seem to generally not take meetings seriously.

2) The Dominator: These people talk over everyone; they are sure to make their points known, regardless of anyone else’s perspective.

3) The Rambler: They just go on and on and on and on… and on.

…and how do you handle them? The general challenge is that you must maintain the relationship and manage tasks. And you must preserve both.

1) The Slacker - If the Slacker approaches you moments before a meeting to let you know they didn’t get something done, thank them for the update, then request that they present their update to the group during the meeting. In doing this, you don’t allow them to shift the accountability from them to you OR you sidestep their attempt to shift the accountability from them to you. As Brownlee stated, “Teams are great about discerning whether they need to come down hard or give a pass.” Establish a ground rule that if someone takes ownership of a task, they take complete ownership and report to the team accordingly. To prevent slacking behavior, be sure to assign and review each task (along with a date), and write it down. Every task must have an owner, a definition and a due date. Lastly, consider asking the task owner to set the due date, which increases the likelihood that he or she will get it done. But be mindful of how you assign tasks. Avoid generic and easy to dismiss “Do you understand?” type of confirmation questions.

Boost accountability with these three questions:
- Ask the owner what their understanding of the task is
- Ask them to explain what the deliverable will look like
- Ask them what the first three steps they will take will be

Finally, manage the Slacker with these specific suggestions:

Document all action items and details
Have action item owners propose the due date
Ask for updates before the meeting
Discuss consequences for missed due dates
Suggest a ground rule that owners must notify another team member if there is jeopardy on a task
If persistent issues arise, discuss offline one on one
Use technology anywhere you can to make your life easier

2) The Dominator - Brownlee offers several useful tips on managing these folks:

Compliment, document and pivot: This 3 step approach involves making the Dominator feel heard. Most people dominate because they feel unheard. The natural inclination is to shut them down, which causes the cycle to repeat. So compliment, repeat their point, then parking lot the issue to document it. Finally, ask other people for their thoughts, re-directing the issue’s focus.
Ask the Dominator to suggestion solutions, take items offline/parking lot, or accept the issue as an action item: Consider responding with “I agree that that’s an issue. How would you fix it?” Set a ground rule that if someone voices an concern/ complaint, they must also bring a solution. Give them responsibility.
Get the Dominator’s support prior to the meeting: Especially if the Dominator is your boss! For example, “I’m concerned that when we talk about what’s wrong, everyone respects you so much, they’ll be tempted to say what you want to hear. And I know you want candid commentary…”
Give the Dominator a special role (timekeeper, scribe, etc): Keep ‘em busy.
Refer to ground rules (e.g. balanced airtime)
Place Dominator’s issues toward the end of the agenda
Use a “round robin” approach to emphasized balanced participation: Give each person a chance to voice their opinion about an issue.
Use a gimmich to reinforce balanced air time: A physical item can be useful to remind attendees of time limits, whose turn it is to speak, etc.
Consider following up with the Dominator after the meeting: “What’d you think?”

3) The Rambler - Try these techniques:

Refocus the team on PAL (Purpose, Agenda, Limit)
Include timings on agenda topics (and follow them)
Question if the issue can be taken offline: In fact, any time you need to say something delicate, turn it into a question. People don’t like to be told what to do.
Acknowledge time spent on an issue and “time box” discussion: Ask the person if they’d be willing to take the item offline. If they refuse, follow up by 1) Asking the group what their thoughts are and/or 2) “Time Boxing” … “We’ll spend 5 more minutes on this issue, then we should assign an action item.”
Park the issue to be addressed later
Assign a co-facilitator to alert the team when a topic goes into a rabbit hole: Or consider the “rambler police” in informal team settings.

Generally, you don’t want to create a parent/ child relationship. Rather, you should build a culture of accountability.

For more information on this and many other topics, visit www.meetinggenie.com or www.professionalismmatters.com.

Or contact Dana: danapbrownlee@professionalismmatters.com
678.777.7188

American Express OPEN Ranks Georgia the #1 State for Female Entrepreneurs

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 13:44:05 -0400

American Express OPEN Ranks Georgia the #1 State for Female Entrepreneurs:

“Across America, the number of women-owned businesses is multiplying at a faster rate than the number of businesses owned by men, according to new research… Turns out, when it comes to areas of the country with the fastest-growing number of women-owned firms, rural states dominate.”

Care of Bloomberg.com and a eagle-eyed friend. It seems that...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:15:02 -0400

Care of Bloomberg.com and a eagle-eyed friend. It seems that diversity will almost always lead to success.

Bennett Thrasher Joins Terry's Professional Women's Conference as a 2012 Sponsor

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:12:53 -0400

Bennett Thrasher Joins Terry's Professional Women's Conference as a 2012 Sponsor:

Bennett Thrasher committed today to supporting Professional Women by way of the 2012 Terry Professional Women’s Conference. Bennett Thrasher is one of the largest Atlanta-based full-service certified public accounting and consulting firms. They believe “good ideas can come from anywhere and many capable minds are usually better than one. While some perceive accounting to be a solemn profession, we view financial success as a passionate goal. To us, there’s nothing more exciting. Come see how we create value and provide a unique experience through collaboration.”

For more information, visit http://www.btcpa.net/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx.

We’re thrilled to have them on board for another year!

Why You Should Learn to Tell Your Daughter She's Smart (Not Just "Pretty")

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:04:00 -0400

Recently, Forbes posted an article about the “7 Ways You’re Hurting Your Daughter’s Future”. I highly encourage anyone with a daughter to read and discuss with a spouse for an explanation on exactly what damage you do by criticizing your own body or insisting that only her father takes out the trash. In my friend groups, discussions on nature vs. nurture continue, with many parents insisting that their daughters have always liked to shop or have been wearing mommy’s shoes since they could walk because that’s just who they are. But in this fascinating article, various habits many parents fall into when raising a daughter and their impacts are examined. A previous guest poster, Ashleigh Hill, offers her thoughts…

I believe very strongly that a lot of societal gender roles and issues take root in us during childhood. This is true, as the article states, about gender, but also about race, sexuality, and class. The fact that an “us vs. them” mentality starts in preschool and weaves it’s way all the way up through adulthood has got to have some serious implications on mental, social, and spiritual development. The article centers on gendering behavior, which is both popular and hurtful. I understand the influence of patriarchy but, I’m still trying to figure out why we’re all so obsessed with behavior. I don’t believe there’s a lot of actual proof for innate gender differences, and some may fight me on that one; but, I think we can agree that the implemented differences aren’t working out too well for anyone. Even as adults we ask, “What makes a real man /woman?” And then we have to dig through all we’ve been taught to try and figure out such a question instead of defining it for ourselves.

What bothers me most are the things we teach children about themselves and then critique them for, later in life. Imagine struggling through a world as a girl who has been told to be quiet and girly, or a boy who has been told he’s not good at listening. Can we really blame anyone who then achieves the goals set for them?

We live in a world where only certain types of bodies are considered excellent. We often address that by saying we need to develop self-love and spirituality and resist negative messages. That’s true, but in some ways I think that’s like saying, “well, the water’s poisonous, but it’s the water we have so we should deal with it.” I refuse to live a life that only finds ways to deal with a poisonous environment. It’s a good start to “avoid walking exclusively down the Barbie and doll aisles at stores,” but “princess culture” is something we should also be questioning, fighting, and looking for the good in, with our children. I think this also opens up a great way to talk to kids about gender in the world. Why do we think kids don’t have thoughts about what they are immersed in at a very young age? Maybe instead of total avoidance we could ask: “This is what I’ve been seeing about what it means to be a girl, what do you think? What do you think it means to be a girl?” Or, “This is what seems popular for girls but I don’t think that’s right and here is why.” I love that this article suggests pointing out the positives in “princess culture,” as the culture tends to be feminine. Femininity is too often seen as a weakness instead of as a strength.

It’s true that grown women criticize their own bodies and the bodies of other women around small children, but we also criticize other types of bodies – men’s bodies, disabled bodies, what-we-see-as unhealthy bodies, bodies of different nationalities – the list goes on. It’s important that children not only understand health but that they understand everyone’s body is different and equally valuable. I think it’s essential not only to empower children but also to teach them to empower others and to look at the world holistically, instead of just as something for them to be powerful in.

Photo Credit: Liz Laribee, http://www.lizlaribee.com/

Previous thoughts provided by dear friend, Ashleigh Hill. Born and raised in Fairfax, VA, Ashleigh has a degree in Public Relations from Messiah College and is a Masters Candidate in the Women’s in Gender Studies Program at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Ashleigh has a background in music business and PR, publication management, editing, and non-profit and corporate communication. She currently works for The Night Ministry’s Response-Ability Pregnant and Parenting Program, which works to alleviate poverty and emotionally supports teenage girls in Chicago, IL. She spends a lot of time reading articles on the internet and drinking milkshakes. Read more at The Continuously Fractured Life http://ashleighfhill.tumblr.com/

The owner of iFixit and Dozuki states "I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar." Click here to read why...

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:55:06 -0400

The owner of iFixit and Dozuki states "I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar." Click here to read why...

The Five Most Annoying Email Signature Traits

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:55:00 -0400

Everyone makes judgments. This happens constantly and subconsciously throughout the day. Sometimes (okay… usually) we use ridiculous indicators to make assumptions about another person. With that in mind, it’s up to each of us to be aware of those indicators and to be mindful of ways that assumptions are made about us.

In business, one of the ways people make snap judgments is by way of e-mail signatures. Urlesque.com recently ran down the five most annoying aspects of e-mail signatures. They referred to e-mail signatures as “the bumper stickers of the internet”. The unfortunate reality is that most people are bound to mandated corporate templates for signatures. Regardless, these are the aspects typically found most annoying when an email falls into our inbox

1. The Corporate Disclaimer

As Jack Shafer explains in a clever Slate piece, such confidentiality disclaimers have little to no legal effect, and you should feel welcome to ignore them unless you know you’re dealing with actual corporate secrets

2. The Preachy “Do Not Print” Message

OK, while we’re all on board with the sentiment of these disclaimers, who prints e-mail these days? Additionally, these footnotes have the unintended effect of coming off as preachy

3. The “Social Media Marketer” Signature

It’s probably a smart idea to include one or two networking sites in your signature, and a lot of companies are mandating it (including mine). But exercise reason- most people will look you up on Linked In if they’d like to add you and including a personal blog on your work site is inappropriate.

4. The Inspirational Quote

.¸¸.•´¯`♥ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -- Mark Twain ♥.¸¸.•´¯`

As Urleque puts it, “I don’t want to write off every single inspirational quotation ever, but the overused sayings of famous dead people don’t add anything to your email. I asked you to tell me the address of the party, not tell me whether God plays dice with the universe, or where I’ll land if I shoot for the moon and miss. Also, the little hearts and the extra asterisks and tildes make me question our relationship.

Also, don’t think you’re exempt from this one if you’re listing Klingon proverbs or quoting some cool character from a video game. The point is that these quotes have nothing to do with the person you’re emailing or the topic you’re emailing them about.”

5. The Email Address In The Email Signature

…i’m not sure when or why this became commonplace, but it does seem superfluous doesn’t it?

Bottom line: No one likes this look…

What are your biggest e-mail pet peeves?

Source: http://www.urlesque.com/2011/01/11/most-annoying-email-signatures/

Turning A Job You Hate Into A Job You Love

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 09:18:00 -0400

If you’re anything like me, you know at least one person who claims to hate their job. Some are certainly justified, but remaining in that mindset is hazardous to anyone’s health. Note that I didn’t say “remaining in that job”. The reality is that switching jobs, though ideal, is not always possible nor is it always the solution. Some people will find a way to hate their job regardless of their circumstance.

And people who like their jobs also go through periods of melancholoy. So what’s a modern day employee to do?

A recent post by Nisa Chitakasem, co-author of the book, How to Get the Job You Want, expands on the idea of changing your mindset when you can’t change your job. Making conscious choices to re-view your situation can change everything.

1. Negotiate changes in your job description.

Talk openly and honestly with your boss about altering your workload or the type of work you do. Your boss should understand that if you’re unhappy, you won’t be as productive as you could be, plain and simple. Just having this conversation can change things and come up with a solution.

2. Arrange to work with different people.

Even if you’re on good terms with your co-workers, changing things up can “refresh your outlook” on your work. Informally, you can include new blood in internal initiatives.

3. Seek synergy.

On the flip side, iIf you can identify people you enjoy working with, seek out opportunities to work with them. Externally, consider suppliers, customers or partners you work well with and leverage those relationships to brighten your career.

4. Transfer to a different team or department.

Are there no opportunities where you are? Consider a shift. Don’t expect to be moved, approach your boss but be sure to do so in a way that clearly benefits him or her. Look into other areas, do some research and be specific about the potential gains for your organization.

5. Find a confidant.

You’ll always need to let off steam. Although you can and should be able to talk to your boss about strategic issues, you also need someone you can vent to (and that should not be your boss). A colleague, a mentor, a close friend in another department- any of these can serve as your confidant but choose carefully. You need to know for certain that you can have private discussions with this person and that it will go no further.

6. Make the most of your free time.

When you’re not working, spend time with people you like. Get plenty of rest and spend time by yourself. The more you enjoy your time spent away from work, the less pressure you’ll put on yourself to LOVE your job.

7. Don’t neglect diet and fitness.

As Chitakasem puts it ” A poor diet leaves us feeling sluggish and irritable, exacerbating any negative feelings we may have about work. By eating well and exercising regularly, we increase our energy levels and alertness and lift our mood. You might be surprised at how much these changes can contribute to a more positive attitude about your job.”

8. Reset your work clock.

If your work schedule prevents the work/life balance you need to be happy (dropping your children off at school, etc), talk to your employer about possibly shifting your work schedule. A growing number of organizations are amenable to flexible work schedules.

9. Adapt your surroundings.

Personalize your work space; bring in pictures of family and friends, knick knacks and other personal items within reason. Make your chair more comfortable. See this post for more guidelines and suggestions.

10. Prune the backlog.

Take care of cleaning out your inbox. Organize your folders. Clean up your desk. An orderly desk is an orderly mind and a happier employer. Also consider cleaning up apps on your phone- get streamlined.

You can take steps to be a more satisfied employee- take ownership of your happiness.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/04/16/how-to-turn-a-job-you-hate-into-a-job-you-love/

"Successful people understand that you don’t need to make things complicated."

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 12:02:01 -0400

“Successful people understand that you don’t need to make things complicated.”

- Anne McKevitt, entrepreneur, TV personality, author and philanthropist

The Onion Satirizes Strides Made by "Pretty Women"

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:00:28 -0400

The Onion Satirizes Strides Made by "Pretty Women"

10 Things Your Interviewer Won't Tell You

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:52:01 -0400

Having sat on both sides of the interview table, I can say that some things are far more obvious to the interviewer than the interviewee (especially the inexperienced interviewee). But U.S. News and World Report has opened the door to the mind of the interviewer to help highlight what impresses them and what annoys them. As an interviewer, I can attest to several of these, especially the first…

You showed up to early - Think it through. Say you have a busy day, comprised of your own work and coordinating interviews at various times. What’s the most annoying interruption to your schedule? An absurdly early interviewee. If you’re interviewing for a job, you aren’t doing yourself a favor by showing up more than 5 minutes early. A lot of interviewers feel uneasy just leaving you in a waiting area for more than a few minutes. If you get to the building early, wait in your car.
We’re judging your appearance - Avoid clothes that fit badly, ungroomed hair, casual clothes, etc. In the majority of industries, appearance still matters and serves as an indicator of your ability to keep your life together in general.
We don’t want you to try to sell us - Focus on whether or not the position is a good fit for you and the company. In “this economy”, people are often more convinced about landing a job than landing the right one. But you aren’t helping yourself in the long run if you rush into a job without really looking into the fit.
Little things count - Everything counts, especially if a position comes down to you and another applicant. If you’re in a dead heat with someone else, your potential employer will pick the one who is kinder to the receptionist, writes better emails, responds more quickly to requests for writing samples or references, etc.
We mind when you badmouth a former employer - Spend time figuring out a way to explain why your last job didn’t work out without talking trash about your boss or the company. Be honest, but political. Secondarily, employers will wonder if you’re hard to get along with, a troublemaker or impossible to please.
You might be talking too much - Be direct and to the point. Avoid tangents. Really. This is especially tempting on phone interviews, but keep yourself in check. As U.S. News explains, ” If you’re tempted to go on longer than two minutes, instead ask, “Does that give you what you’re looking for, or would you like me to go more in depth about this?” If the interviewer wants more, she’ll say so.”
Fit is crucial, and so is your personality - Your working style is a factor, even if you’re fully qualified otherwise.
We want you to talk about salary first for the exact reason you fear - Interviewers will push you to name a number first for exactly the reason you want to avoid it - so you’ll lowball yourself. This is all the more reason to research thoroughly the accurate salary range for the position, location and your experience.
We’re going to ask other people what they think of you - As an interviewer, I can tell you that I ask everyone an applicant spoke with about any impressions they might have. Be nice. To everyone.
We like thank-you notes, but not for the reason you think - As U.S. News puts it, “ Post-interview thank-you notes aren’t just about thanking the interviewer for her time; the ones that are done well build on the conversation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the job.”

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-things-interviewer-wont-tell-131753801.html