Providing tips on people skills, networking, and making the most of professional and personal contacts (especially for shy people!). As well as other random observations and musings . . .
I actually like advertising .... after all, that's why many people watch the Super Bowl even if they don't like football.
But it's especially aggravating when people call and tell you they want to interview you for Forbes, ask you to send photos, want to hear your business story and .... then tell you have to pay for it.
Just tell me upfront, "I want to sell you adversting." Say that at the beginning of the call - not after I call back and schedule what I think is going to be an interview.
I'm not sure why a prestigious publication like Forbes would do this, but please warn the women business owners in your network. Advertising is advertising!
Be wary of any calls you get from EMI Network posing as Forbes.
May sound weird but I'm actually enjoying an hour at the airport. I'm flying to Chicago to speak to the Forte Foundations MBA Women's Conference. What an amazing collection of speakers!
It's been a fabulous but nutty few months. I just bought my FIRST home! The first one of my entire life! I'm very happy. It's quite a wonderful distraction. It's amazing how much time you can spend searching for estate sales on Craigslist. It's also amazing what people have in their homes! OMG!
I'm thinking of adopting a cat in the fall after I've lived there for a few months. That would also be a first - I've never had a pet of my own. I'll go to one of the shelters or find someone who has one that needs a new home.
Deloitte LLP has been named a recipient of the 2010 Catalyst Award,
an honor recognizing innovative, effective and measurable initiatives to
advance women in the workplace. Catalyst, a global nonprofit
organization dedicated to building inclusive workplaces and expanding
opportunities for women in business, cited the achievements of
Deloitte’s Women’s Initiative (WIN), noting it has “created significant
change in the company’s culture and provided an engine for innovation,
becoming a model for other organizations in the process.” This is the
second Catalyst Award presented in honor of a Deloitte initiative. In
1995, Catalyst recognized Deloitte’s Task Force for the Retention and
Advancement of Women.
“These initiatives exemplify our Catalyst vision - ‘Changing
workplaces. Changing lives,’” said Ilene H. Lang, president & chief
executive officer of Catalyst. “They impact the lives of employees,
families and communities by transforming organizations, and serve as
models that inspire and encourage others to embrace inclusive workplaces
that benefit women, men and business.”
Canadian skater Joannie Rochette and I share one thing in common - we've both lost our mother. For me, there was no worse moment in my life than when I got that call.
I just went to the couch and melted ... for days.
My heart and prayers are with Joannie and her father. I wish you the best tonight and thank you for your courage and inspiration.
It was a spectacular summer night in Boston. I had a good day, just helped some people with networking challenges, and was thinking about what I should do after work.
I typically put events on the calendar with a question mark - then I can decide what appeals to me based on timing, location, who will be there, the topic, and candidly my mood.
I picked a group I had wanted to check out for awhile. It was a forum for women discussing global and local issues and how you can help.
The hotel had a sign when you got off the elevator so I walked that direction. There were numerous options from there. I walked by two women having an intense conversation - you know the boxed in body language that says, "don't interrupt us."
Fortunately I know the hotel function space and found my way out to the deck. There were a number of tables with groups all set. One had a sign so I knew that wasn't what I was looking for. I walked around, didn't see anyone I knew, no one said hello, so I headed back to the front desk to inquire more.
As I walked by the two women still in private conversation, one said to me, "are you looking for _____ group?" She pointed me back to the deck. I said I had just been out there but it seemed like private little groups so I wasn't sure. The two of them continued to explain where the group was.
Hello ... that wasn't the problem!
I went back out with the vapor of energy I had left and thought I'll give it another shot.
I walked around the two tables, no one got up, I finally saw one person I knew, who gave me the obligatory wave (she's one of the hosts), and she went back to her conversation.
Now I was really running on thin vapor. I felt like a complete idiot for attending and was saying a thank you in my head that my guest hadn't been able to join me.
I gave it another shot but walking over to the host. She stayed seated, looked up and commented how there were too few chairs and we would have to rotate who stood and who sat down.
Another person complained that the champagne was flat, cut in front of me to complain to the waiter while another person talked about the summer house rotation.
Mind you the group was advertised as one that is forum for women helping each other.
I ended up excusing myself and networked with my sneakers for a good long walk.
