I have observed many firms attempt to create loyalty and an inspiration for hard work amongst their staff. One financial planning firm has actually gone to the extreme in attempting to create a staff of loyal, committed staff people. But what has transpired, instead, is more of an episode of The Office than a truly inspired workforce. The reason: loyalty is not something … [Read more...]
A Woman Leader for Today
Here is the recipe: take a very large scoop of entrepreneurs ready to change the world add one powerful leader who ignores the word “can’t” drop in, one at a time, equally powerful women who hear the call to success mix with social media garnish with online and on-site programs blend with international flavors serve this nutritious combination everyday for … [Read more...]
Increasing Your Millionaire Mindset
If you give a million-dollar idea to a person with a $500 mentality, they'll turn that million-dollar idea into $500. Alternatively, if you give a $500 idea to a person with a million dollar mentality, they'll turn that little idea into a huge, multi-million-dollar business. We all like to stay in our "safety zone." If your constrain your safety zone to a certain amount per … [Read more...]
Are You Working in the Red Zone, or Just Working?
Blog from Maribeth Kuzmeski of Red Zone Marketing What is worth the effort in your business? Where does your productivity and focus pay off the most? Of course, the activities that produce the greatest results are not the easiest. The biggest successes often come when we are in the difficult, magnified, and critical “red zone.” The red zone is a common football term. … [Read more...]
Social media: pick three avenues, and move forward
I found this through my Twitter stream and thought it was apropos for women in business. If you or your boss does not yet have a social media plan in place, now is a good time to get one started. Too overwhelming? Start simple. Too confusing? Ask a trusted advisor. Too hard? Hire out. Click to view the moving counter: … [Read more...]
Leadership Work vs. “Women’s Work”
The balance score card to measures a society is graded by how its leaders set policy for caring; for children, the sick, the elderly, and the poor. If I were asked to grade our country I’m saddened to say the marks would not get us into Harvard. What is missing? For me it boils down to the relationship aspect of how we care for each other. Remember the name of Hilary … [Read more...]
Imitating Innovators is Smart Business
Did you know that 97.8% of the value of innovations goes to imitators? (“Imitation is More Valuable Than Innovation,” Harvard Business Review, April 2010.) White Castle led to McDonald’s; Diners Club lead to Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Walmart’s founder admitted to borrowing most of its practices from others and improving on them. In the financial services … [Read more...]
Bold Leadership
There are so many words to describe leadership and almost all point to action; leaders, the best leaders, act. This sounds so right, so intuitively right; yet, my question is about what is the right action? How do we know, how do we ever know if what we do when we act is going to be of benefit, going to move our lives, personally and professionally in the direction of … [Read more...]
The Importance of Telling your Story
We are far, far more interested in stories then we are interested in your sales talk. We're excited to hear the story of how you got into business. We're inspiried by the obstacles you face and how you overcome them. What is your story? Share your story and personalize your company's mission, vision, and values. Why do your customers support you? What does it mean to join … [Read more...]
Complexity of Women Leaders
Women in power in this century are, for the most part, dismissing the old notions of the vast dichotomy between their skills and those of their male counterparts. This has been an on-going debate for decades and essentially, leads nowhere. We are all complex, multi-layered human beings and we need to embrace that concept, female and male. A graduate of the Total Leadership … [Read more...]