Blog

Remembering Mom

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:00 -0400

Around Mother’s Day, my thoughts are always with my own mother who I lost many years ago. Although she isn’t around to see her grandsons grow up, her influence has definitely been felt throughout the years.

I was one of those lucky few that had a mother that passed down an excellent blueprint for being a mom. She wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Neither am I. However, she definitely got the most important things very, very right. So, in memory of my mom, let me share why my mother definitely had her inner sass.

She was always nonjudgmental when it came to my life decisions. Which means, she listened to me and let me make up my own mind. She didn’t tell me what decision I should make or what I should think. She just listened and helped me come to my own decisions. Even though I knew what she would want my life to look like, I knew she accepted me for who I was at my core. Looking back, I don’t know how she kept quiet in certain situations with me! But she did and her unconditional acceptance truly helped me to become a strong woman and have my own voice in life.

She repeatedly told me that I deserved the best in life. Guess what happened? I grew up to think that I deserved the best in every aspect of my life. I am not talking about entitlement here! I always was willing to work hard to get what I wanted in life. I just felt that I never had to settle for anything and I certainly was never desperate. Not with men, jobs, friendships etc.

She was a kind, loving person that showed how she felt about you. This used to embarrass me terribly when I was younger. Why did she always have to get in personal conversations with the bagger at the grocery store? Why did she have to grab the hand and touch whomever she was talking to? It used to drive me crazy until I was older and realized how people really felt about my mom. They loved her. She was a warm, caring person and people felt her warmth when in her presence. Their walls came down when she was around. Funny thing is that I often find myself saying and doing the exact same things.

She taught me how to handle conflict in a healthy manner. My mom and I had horrendous rows-bad verbal fights that often ended in tears and doors banging (that was me). However, no matter what we fought about or how bad it got, we always talked it out and got to the bottom of the situation. We always ended the fight hugging and saying that we were both sorry. My mom and my Dad’s conflicts always played out the exact same way. What I learned was this; you can have bad conflicts where you can express how you feel but still work things out at the end. Because of this, I always felt confident in conflict situations and never shied away from uncomfortable truths.

She treated every person with the same amount of respect. It didn’t matter if you were a garbage collector or you ran a large corporation. She really didn’t care how much money you had in the bank. What she wanted to know was this-were you a kind, caring person that treated others well? I learned at a very young age not to be impressed by what people possessed, but how they live their life.

So thanks Mom, for giving me such a wonderful example of a woman that has her inner sass. Although you are no longer physically here with me, I sense your presence daily in everything that I achieve in my life.

You're Leading is Anyone Following by TIffany Crosby, Petra Learning LLC

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:34:00 -0400

It’s time for me to air on of my pet peeves – the misuse of leadership assessments. Knowing that I’m a D and C (DISC) and an INTP (Myer-Briggs) is quite useful, as I will discuss later on. But I’ve also seen this knowledge used as an excuse for a failure to lead, and that irks me. Comments like "I'm a D so that's just how it is" or "I'm an introvert, so its hard for me to connect with people", just get under my skin. As I thought about leadership and all the varied leadership advice that floats around today, I realized that we seem to have gotten away from a very basic principle. “If people aren’t willingly and enthusiastically following you, then you’re not an effective leader”. It doesn’t matter what leadership maxim you are using. It doesn’t matter whether your employees can quote your vision and your mission. It doesn’t matter what your internal surveys say. It doesn’t matter whether other executives rate you highly. These metrics are easily tainted. But actions speak for themselves. If your team can’t generate results without you micromanaging, then there’s an issue with your leadership. If morale improves when you’re not at the helm, there’s an issue with your leadership. Balanced scorecard metrics cannot alter what is clearly staring you in the face. Yet, so many leaders overlook these signs. They congratulate themselves for their dedication and hard work. No one works harder than they do. No one is more committed to the mission or vision of the company then they are. They shudder at the thought of what the company would be if they weren’t there to lead it. That shudder should be a “flashing red siren” letting them know that there is something wrong with their leadership style. Leaders should be able to walk away and have the business continue. That means that people have been following them. They’ve taken notes and they’ve internalized the vision. Your vision has become their vision. Your commitment has become their commitment. This transference is the ultimate mark of leadership. Now if you’re reading this and getting a little uncomfortable, take heart. My venting is over. Now it’s time to look at what it takes to become a true leader. The good news is that it’s never too late to become a true leader, unless of course you’ve departed from us but then you wouldn’t be able to read this blog. So, assuming that you still have a heartbeat, read on.

I’m not going to bore you with yet another top 10 must have leadership skills list. I’ve read far too many of those and I’m tired of comparing them to see which ones agree and which are different (please tell me I’m not the only that has done that). Instead, I’d like to focus on one essential quality that will outshine everything else --- Likeability. It’s not politically correct, but it’s very real. Let’s face it, who wants to follow someone that they can barely tolerate. The person may be a great visionary but, if people don’t like them, they will criticize the vision as a substitute for criticizing the person. They may be creative and innovative and highly motivated but, if people don’t like them, these talents will be seen as arrogant and standoffish. They may attend social gatherings but, if people don’t like them, they are avoided like the plague. Their team members would rather go to the dentist then have lunch with them. But they will go to lunch with them if necessary to advance their cause. They just put on the Teflon and suck it up as the cross you bear. Because people don’t socialize with them, they never get to know the leader’s other side. They never get to see the wine connoisseur, the nature lover, the science fiction enthusiast, or whatever else occupies their time outside of work. Their image becomes reinforced. How do you break through this pattern? It starts by recognizing the fact that getting your people to like you is a part of your job. As a leader, you need to understand what makes people tick so that you can understand how they may perceive your actions. You need to understand the aspects of your style (yes, Myer-Briggs and others) that may rub people the wrong way. You also need to understand the aspects of their style that you can relate to and those that conflict with you. You need to use all those leadership assessments to identify concrete ways to get your people to like you. It’s amazing how much more work gets done when people like their leader. They go that extra mile and that’s not something that you can mandate. So, do the people you lead like you or do they tolerate you? Do they smile when you enter or when you leave? If you want that intangible quality that defines so many high-performing teams, you must begin right at the heart of leadership. There’s no way around it.

Closing the STEM Gender Gap

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:22:09 -0400

Ladies, let me let you in on a little secret.

According to a recent report released by The White House Council on Women and Girls: “Women make up only 25 percent of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) workforce, which is expected to grow by nearly 20 percent over the rest of the decade. “

Well, I didn’t say it was a GOOD secret.

But listen – there’s more:

Jason Koebler of US News and World Report writes: “Women who do work in STEM fields make up to ONE-THIRD more money than women who work in NON-STEM fields.” That means a woman making $50,000 per year could increase that to just over $66,000. That’s kind of a big difference.

You’re probably thinking the same thing I am: If STEM jobs pay more money, why aren’t more women working in those fields?

While the answer to that may never be known, there are folks out there who are committed to closing the STEM gap, one girl at a time.

Through afterschool programs like Techie Club: Girls and summer programs like Techie Camp, TECH CORPS, a national nonprofit organization, is working to elevate girls' confidence with STEM-related concepts and skills in safe and supportive environments and by exposing them to tech-savvy women.

“TECH CORPS believes that in order to ensure a technologically literate, diverse workforce tomorrow, we must take a holistic approach to growing, nurturing, and supporting our students today,” said Lisa M. Chambers, TECH CORPS National Director. “While we work with all K-12 students, we also know that it is important for our organization to develop programs and strategies to engage students who are drastically underrepresented in STEM, including girls.”

Time Warner Cable partners with TECH CORPS to provide scholarship support to their Techie Camps - a full-day, week-long technology experience designed specifically for elementary and middle school students. This year Time Warner Cable is helping to send 75 kids to Techie Camp in Central and Northeast Ohio!The goal of Techie Camp is to engage students in activities that can stimulate a deeper interest in technology like robotics, programming and web development; as well as provide opportunities for them to express their imaginations.

TECH CORPS and Time Warner Cable are working together to make sure all kids, especially young women, are not just introduced to STEM based opportunities, but encouraged to explore them.

Want to find STEM education programs in for your child in your community? Check out The Connectory atTime Warner Cable’s Connect A Million Minds site for more information and STEM opportunities near you! For additional details about the Techie Camp scholarships visit techiecamp.org

A Day To Say Goodbye to Old Grudges: Untangling Mother-Daughter Ties by Suzanne Braun Levine

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:02:00 -0400

Like many women in midlife, I find Mother's Day as much a reminder of a fraught relationship as a celebration of motherhood.

Even if we are not caring for our mothers, and even if we rarely spend time with them -- even, as in my case, they are no longer alive -- the emotional status of our relationship with them is a major factor in our ongoing reinvention. The intimacy between a woman and the woman who gave birth to her has its own unique mix of physical, psychological and gender forces within each of them. No matter how independent and grounded we have become in everyone else's eyes, in our own we are barely out of our teens in relation to her. Any attempt at resolution is a replay of the adolescent struggle to establish a strong and independent identity without stretching the bonds of love too far.

Making those adjustments is especially discomfiting for a generation that never resolved the tensions between the rewards and sacrifices of love and motherhood.

When we were young and outraged, our efforts to rectify historic injustices obscured the fact that those efforts put us in direct conflict with the very women whose abuse we thought we were avenging.

As social psychologist Terri Apter observes about us, "Their mothers had, as they saw it then, bequeathed them a defective feminine nature. They had colluded with a society that restricted and even punished their efforts as self-correction."

Just think back to the wardrobe rebellions we undertook against the feminine establishment. My mother was a fashion plate; I was a drab dresser. She was the one who wore short skirts, girdles and stockings. I wore jeans and boots. She looked pretty good; I not so much. But that was the point.

Over the years women of my generation have mellowed and a less judgmental worldview is now possible, even in relation to our mothers. We have a second chance to listen to her story with empathy, this time, not rancor.

Until my mother began to fail, I had convinced myself that I had "outgrown" her years ago. I felt so uncomfortable with the "femininity" she practiced that even in the years when we had marriage and children in common, I doubted we spoke the same language. As she got weaker, though, she seemed more innocent, less defiant, and I began to wonder about what she wasn't telling me when I wasn't telling her more than the bare minimum about myself.

For example, why did she send me a copy of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique soon after it came out? Was she trying to tell me what her life was like? Was it a call for help? Or was "Women's Lib" simply the latest of her protest causes?

Why didn't I ask?

As I reviewed other such incidents, a solitary and brave woman began to emerge. My heart goes out to her. I admire her. I accept her. At the same time I have come to see something more meaningful to me than my (albeit justified) gripes: she did the very best she could, which is all any of us can do.

According to Apter, if we can replace "the impulse to complain about our inheritance with the need to understand it, "we can accept our own femininity -- which we can do when we feel strong enough to mould it to our own values and needs."

Especially with our mothers and especially now, establishing mutual freedom without neglect, acceptance without pity, devotion without guilt, is the way forward.

Suzanne Braun Levine is First editor of 'Ms.' magazine, Writer on 'Second Adulthood'; Author of 'How We Love Now,' '50 Is the New Fifty,' and 'Inventing the Rest of Our Lives'. Learn more at http://www.suzannebraunlevine.com/

Connecting Local Made Easier Online With Villiagize.com

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:27:00 -0400

Villiagize is a relatively new application that works in conjunction with Facebook to help a sense of community to real neighborhoods in the online wold. The creators of the platform found a way to make it easier to find it each other using the method communication they are already utilizing. Instead of going next for for that cup of sugar, hop on Villiagize and ask away. Need recommendations for a new dentist? Get suggestions from neighbors you don’t know yet. Who knows better than people in your area?

According to a the analytics firm StatCounter, mobile web usage has doubled every year since 2009. As more and more of our lives revolve around gadgets for communication, the creators of Villiagize intuitively built a way for people living in close proximity to connect more effectively while creating a sense of community.

The problem lies in the fact that since more people can be found easily online, some of them enjoy the ability to create a sense of anonymity in real life. The new platform imports information from your Facebook profile to enrich your Villiagize profile. While you can block the program from importing all of your information when it syncs, a profile is still available for you before you even log in for the first time unless you are totally off the grid or do not include your location information in your Facebook profile at all. You can delete your profile at any time, but rather than creating the profile from scratch when you sign up, you must opt out of the program entirely. If it’s in your profile or listed in a local phonebook, your address is available online where anyone can grab it.

While some could argue that phonebooks made it possible for anyone at any time to find phone number and address, there was a sense of security knowing that if someone really wanted your information, they would have to work for it. Now your home address is entirely searchable online AND linked to your online profiles accessible to all by the touch of a few key strokes.

While I think the concept is brilliant, I do have concerns about the security behind the methods of this website. There are also a few kinks they are working out as well.

For instance, when I first entered my address, I made an error on the street name. After searching for the bette part of 15 minutes to figure out how to change it, I contacted the the staff via the “Feedback” tab to get some answers. The staff responded quickly (unlike Facebook)–in less in 15 minutes. Kudos for great customer relations!! The repesentative said they were still working on revisions for the project and there is a list of things they are working to implement in the future (i.e. my self-editing feature to correct address mistakes.) He/she did offer to correct the address error manually earning them bonus points for great customer service.

Overall, Villiagize has great potential. It connects the link missing in communities which would allow citizens to communicate more effectively online. In the future, this outlet could take on a life of its own allowing for traffic reports, weather updates, emergency information and a vast array of other vital news instantaneously going beyond the commercial aspects included the program already.

Fortunatlely, the creators are willing to work with users to correct problems and make it safer and more user friendly. Give it a whirl, see what you think. At the worst, you can always opt out.

Baker Creative is a brand architectural firm that practices an holistic branding approach which encompasses marketing, business, HR, public relations, social media and new media with creative execution. You can follow her on Twitter @BakerCreative or check out the company website at Baker-Creative.com.

In Her Business: Melissa Worthington of Blue Frost Cupcake on the Power of Networking

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:47:00 -0400

Melissa Worthington and Briana Irby are the owners of Blue Frost Cupcake, a gourmet cupcake bakery that specializes in parties, weddings and corporate events.

Read on to learn more about Blue Frost Cupcake from one of its owners, Melissa Worthington. She discusses how it deals with maintaining a quality product while controlling costs and how it has found innovative ways to market its products.

What drives your passion for business?

My business partner and I are cardiac nurses that have enjoyed baking gourmet treats and desserts over the years as a hobby. We wanted to bring our desire to create delicious and beautiful cupcakes into a business that we would enjoy doing for many years to come.

What was one challenge you faced with your business?

Containing the cost of ingredients and supplies while still offering a high quality product. We do not want to sacrifice the quality of our cupcakes and have done a lot of research on buying bulk locally.There are many companies in Columbus that offer baking supplies and ingredients if you shop around.

We had one of our suppliers walk in the door and we told him if he could lower our costs then we would use his company. He brought us many samples and ended up gaining our trust and he saved us money at the same time! The Worthington, Ohio community as a whole supports local businesses and we try to return the favor.

What have you done to address this challenge?

We have addressed this issue as well by looking on the Internet for specialty supplies and doing cost comparisons there too. Even with shipping costs, you can save money with companies that sell in bulk. Many of the vendors offer samples of their product to try before you commit to ordering large quantities. You learn to avoid this mistake early!

What advice do you have for other women business owners?

Network every day with everyone! You never know how a chance meeting can grow into a business relationship. I leave business cards and extra cupcakes for the catering staff at weddings we set up. We have gotten so many referrals doing this because once the cupcakes are eaten people say,"Who made these?" They sell themselves, we just follow up with a card and menu. I always carry business cards with me and have a story ready when people ask me what I do for a living. :) Don't be afraid to brag about a quality product or service, especially if you believe in it.

Head over to our Flickr to see more--delicious--photos of Blue Frost Cupcake.

Have a favorite cupcake flavor, or how networking has helped to grow your business? Feel free to share in the comments below.

In Her Business is an article series published by The Women's Book. It takes you inside innovative and growth-oriented women owned businesses. Do you know someone who would make a great profile? Got a tip to share? Do you know someone who would make a great profile? Contact us .

Follow this series on T witter.

*Editor's Note: The Blue Frost Cupcake ad appearing in the Spring 2012 edition of Edible Columbus (pg. 43) quote should read "Two interns (from the Graham School) come here each week for their internship that lasts about 6 months. I value this relationship and the mentoring process”.

Think Before You Post!

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:37:00 -0400

Maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but I spend a lot of time on Facebook. I’ve definitely taken full advantage of this form of social media to grow my business. Yes, connecting with my old high school friends and family has been unbelievably fun and enjoyable. However, the more time I spend on Facebook, the more I become concerned about its misuse and the message that women could be unintentionally sending to 300 of their closest friends. In lieu of this, I have compiled a list of Facebook do’s and don’ts for women that want to succeed in their careers and their relationships.

Give some thought to what you post on your status updates. Please. Is this update something that’s going to make you look positive to the 800 people that might read this? Does it send a message that is congruent with the image that you desire to portray in your career life? How about this— would it sway someone’s current opinion of you to one that is negative? If you’re posting a picture, is your dress too revealing? I’m no prude, but multiple pictures of you with your breasts prominently displayed while you’re partying might not be the best image for your career or your personal life in the long run. People have been known to make quick judgments based on a few pictures.

Attempt to limit the amount of bragging you post on your page. This seems to be an epidemic of on Facebook. Think about it this way— would you go to a party of 100 and attempt to tell every single person present how your daughter just received the absolute highest score in the school on her Math exam? Now be honest— would everyone there truly be interested? Then you understand how this isn’t any different. Being humble and modest are wonderful qualities that seem to be lacking these days. They make you quite likable. For women that are promoting a business in social media, the rules change a bit. A certain amount of boasting is necessary in order to market your business. You need to come across as effective, competent and successful.

If you must partake in some sleazy Facebook posts, please use the privacy options. If you revel in your freedom to post whatever you feel like posting, please be smart about it. I can be your friend, but I don’t need to see all your posts. Set up your Facebook page so I can’t see what you are doing in your personal time. Please. It certainly is changing my impression of you and I am sure you don’t want that.

Don’t post about every single moment of your day. Why would anyone really care that you ate a smokehouse turkey sandwich from Panera at 12:30? Think— would someone find this interesting? Don’t post every single thing that comes to your mind during the day. If you truly want others to read what you write, don’t inundate people with posts. After a while, it’s just too much and people stop reading.

Refrain from coming across needy and attention seeking in your posts. Don’t laugh— I see this everyday on Facebook.I’ve said it before girlfriends, if you’re struggling with some issue in life and you’re feeling down, you don’t share it with 800 people.I know it doesn’t feel uncomfortable sharing this when you are sitting at your computer, but you’re sharing WAY too much information with hundreds and hundreds of people. Again, would you share that with each person at a party with 100 people? Remember that people make judgments based on what you are revealing.

I enjoy Facebook as much as the next person. It has been very, very good to me. But if any of this hits too close to home, then make some changes to your social media habits today.

Shari is a Women's Life Coach, Mental Health Therapist, Speaker and Author of 31 Days to Finding Your Inner Sass. She can be reached at shari@sharigoldsmith.com. To learn more about Shari, go to: www.sharigoldsmith.com.

The Women's Book Magazine Distribution Locations

Mon, 07 May 2012 08:59:00 -0400

Find free complimentary copies of The Women's Book's Magazine at these locations:

Cincinnati Region

Beechmont Ford

Joseph Beth Booksellers

LouLou's Simply Fashion Boutique

Marty's Hops and Vine

MoCa Cafe

Morrison and Me

Central Ohio

Bexley

Cup O' Joe

Jewish Community Center

Clintonville

Cup O' Joe

Easton

M/I Homes Store

Gahanna

En Effect Hair Design

C-Suites Executive Offices

Grandview

Cup O'Joe (Lennox)

Stauf's Coffee Shop

Hilliard

Hilliard Chamber of Commerce

Short North

Substance for Fashion Conscious People
Strands Cafe Ultra Hair Salon

Cup O'Joe

Arena District
The Nicci Debro Spa

New Albany

New Albany Public Library

Out of the Ordinary

Tailfeathers Boutique

Starbucks (Main Street)

Victorian Village

Spinelli's Deli

Northeast Ohio Locations

(Beginning May 8, 2012)

Cleveland

Appletree Books

Loganberry Books

YWCA Greater Cleveland

Cleveland Heights

Macs Backs Paperbacks

University Circle

The Coffee House at University Circle

University Heights

Whole Foods

More locations coming soon!

Bad Behavior Today or Who Stole My Lunch?

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:12:00 -0400

Recently I have been asked to focus on a perplexing but profoundly confusing issue- bad behavior in the workplace. Management has observed that there seems to be a “double standard” in the behavior of staff & we have worked on addressing issues I thought worth sharing. In addition I stumbled across a wealth of information from a great book “The Cost of Bad Behavior: How Incivility is Damaging Your Business and What to Do About It” by Christine Pearson that I will shamelessly refer to.

No surprise but most individuals who are in corporate America today will tell you that they are on their best behavior when connecting with their clients/prospective new clients. Whether they are out to lunch, attending a networking event or otherwise engaged – most are careful about their professional image, body language & making a good lst impression. However, watch those same individuals in their work space, interacting with associates/peers and a different pattern emerges. “Workplace incivility is one of today’s most substantial economic drains on business, but the problem is largely preventable.” Expensive but largely unseen side effects occur when one employee treats another in a disrespectful way. When these inconsiderate words & deeds are left unchecked, they have a tendency to spread fast, far & wide. Research shows that 96% of workers have experienced incivility firsthand. Here’s what it looks like:

Are you an offender?

Taking credit for others efforts

Passing blame for your own mistakes

Checking email or texting during a meeting

Sending bad news thru email so you don’t have to face the recipient

Talking down to others

Spreading rumors about colleagues

Not saying “please” or “thank you”

Showing up late or leaving a meeting early with no explanation

Belittling others efforts

Leaving snippy voice mail or email messages

Failing to return phone calls or respond to emails

Making demeaning or derogatory remarks to someone

Leaving a mess for others to clean up

Consistently grabbing easy tasks while leaving difficulty ones for others

Paying little attention or showing little interest in others’ opinions

What most people don’t understand is that any negative behavior does have consequences. Take for example your staff meeting. Everyone is seated around the conference table & you watch the rolling of the eyes, the crossing of the arms, the fidgeting with pen, blackberry, etc. What happens when people leave that meeting? The negative body language translates into “bad” feelings created among individuals who now have to pretend they are a “team”. Targets of incivility respond in predictable ways. They eagerly wait for offenders to fail & look for opportunities to help push them over the edge & punish their organizations. They work fewer hours, let the quality of their performance slip & waste company time. About 12% will quit their jobs. So how to change this negative atmosphere?

Many companies have launched a civility program aligned with a strong culture of mutual respect. One Fortune 500 company shared their program which focuses on training employees in civility & role modeling appropriate behavior. Some of the their strategies:

l. It hurts to be demeaned, disregarded or disrespected. Pay special attention to taking care of yourself & try to surround yourself with friends who build you up.

2. Appeal to a higher authority. If you want to put an end to bad behavior, you must find an advocate who has the power to do something about it.

3. Back off. As much as possible, avoid face to face interaction with habitual offenders

4. Reframe your thinking. Put the incivility into context. Look at the bigger picture & identify other things about your job that you like. Do whatever it takes to rise above the negative behavior.

5. Grow. Reflect carefully about how the incivility transpired, how it affected you, how you have drawn strength and how your experience has changed your thinking or behavior.

6. Negotiate with the offender. Don’t confront an offender. Don’t provoke. Don’t expect to “win”. If you’re considering a follow-up with your offender, think like a negotiator. Know your limits, prepare, & proceed with a goal of mutual gain.

A person with good manners is someone who always tries to be generous & attentive. Business etiquette is critical to your image & the relationship building process. Ultimately people do not care how much you know until they know that you care.

Shelley is available to discuss creative solutions for your workplace challenges. Concerned that your company’s image is not reflected by your staff? Is incivility costing your company $$$? Please contact Shelley directly to see how you can improve & prosper today!

Making Healthy Changes

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:26:00 -0400

It’s no secret that making changes in your life takes hard work and a strong commitment. There’s no magic elixir you can drink to be happy, healthy and successful. Or so I thought. The story that aired Monday morning on Good Morning America challenged this belief.

According to the reporter, a young woman was planning her wedding and was having difficulty fitting into her dream wedding dress. It was important to her that the wedding was absolutely perfect and, of course, she wanted to look thin on her special day. Therefore, she made an appointment with a doctor that placed her on the KE diet. What’s the KE diet? Let me explain further.

The KE diet is perfect for men or women that want to lose 10, 15 or 20 pounds FAST. The doctor inserts a feeding tube into the individual’s nose that snakes down into their stomach, enabling them to be fed only by a constant drip of protein and fat for 10 days. The daily diet includes only 800 calories and contains zero carbohydrates. The doctor explained on the segment that the food solution can be carried in a bag-like purse and is a hunger- free, effective way of dieting.

The young dieter paid $1500.00 for this experience. Her reasoning for taking such a drastic, expensive measure to lose weight was the following,” I don’t have all of the time on this planet just to focus an hour and a half a day on exercise— so I came to the doctor.” She mentioned that one drawback of having the feeding tube was that friends kept asking her if she was sick or if she was dying.

As I’ve said before many times, it seems as if everyone wants a quick fix in life— especially this woman. The truth is that she could easily lose those 10 pounds with a commitment to eating right while incorporating exercise into her daily routine. What I’m describing is a healthy lifestyle change— which she’ll need to do anyway or those 10 pounds will be back in no time. And by the way, my suggestion to her weight dilemma is FREE. You don’t have to make a 1500$ investment to eat healthy meals and last I checked, you aren’t charged for going for a walk. Not to mention that exercise would be an effective stress reliever as her wedding day approaches.

Is part of this her need to make everything absolutely perfect? This particular young woman believes in her heart that her wedding day will not be complete and won’t have meaning unless she loses 10 pounds. Sometimes we focus so intensely on the details that we have difficulty seeing the big picture and what truly matters in life.

The reality is that her day is never going to be perfect. Life is not perfect and the details of our lives are never without error. Her wedding day can be quite wonderful and lovely even if it isn’t perfect. At the end of the day, she’s still going to be married, and if she loves this guy, having a wonderful day should be enough. In the long run, the perfect weight, the perfect flowers, and the perfect bridesmaid dresses are not going to make you any happier. Yes, choosing to be happy, healthy and successful in life can be hard work— but it is very worth it!

Shari Goldsmith is an Author, Speaker, Women's Life Coach and Mental Health Therapist that helps women find their inner sass! She can be reached at shari@shariogoldsmith.com Learn more about Shari at www.sharigoldsmith.com

Preventing Travel Nightmares

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:23:00 -0400

By Jacqueline Blount, VP/Owner Uniglobe Travel Designers

Traveling improves our health and wellness, broadens our horizons and strengthens our relationships with loved ones. Yet, for some people, traveling brings anxiety and fears to surface. Those fears shouldn’t keep you from venturing out. We have compiled a list of pre-emptive measures you can take to ease your mind and to avoid a bumpy journey.

1) Make two copies of your important documents before traveling. One copy should stay at home and keep the other copy in a carry-on or a hotel safe. If you lose your passport or if your purse gets stolen, you’ll be prepared.

2) Pack your medication in your carry-on and a copy of your prescription. Other health concerns to consider are: checking to see if you need any vaccinations before traveling abroad and calling your health insurance to know if your plan covers any sickness that may occur while out of the country.

3) Inform your credit card company if you are planning on traveling for an extended stay or abroad. Otherwise they may close your account because they think it’s stolen.

4) Bring an extra change of clothes in your carry-on. If your checked luggage is lost, it may take you a while to purchase new garments.

5) Hand Sanitizer is your best ally to protect you from sickness and when there is not a place to wash up. Buy a pocket size that will fit in your clear plastic liquids bag for your carry-on and take it with you wherever you go.

6) Check in online 24-hours before your flight. Reserve your seat in advance to avoid being overcrowded between two strangers and rushed at the airport. If you prefer more space, choose the aisle. Want to catch up on sleep? Go with the window so you can lean against it and dream in the clouds.

7) If just the thought of bedbugs gets you itching: buy a large sealed plastic bag that fits inside your luggage to protect you from carrying those unwanted guests home. Never put your luggage on the bed. Remove the top comforter and inspect the bed. Lastly, keep your luggage in the garage and wash all the clothes you took and wore along the journey in hot water.

8) Double wrap your liquids in your checked and carry-on bags. You wouldn’t want your clothes or your new souvenirs to be damaged.

9) Buy travel insurance and know what the policy covers. In the event of a hurricane, death in the family, lost luggage, or if your tour company goes bankrupt, you’ll be covered.

10) Book your vacation with Uniglobe Travel Designers. Most resorts look good online, but a travel professional has the inside scoop on the best accommodations for your dollar. In the case of an emergency our 24/7 hotline will assist you, where it could take days or months for an online booking engine to respond to your dilemma.

The goal of a vacation is to return to your life recharged and rested - not frazzled and warn out. With these tips, you will be armed and ready for a relaxing/stress free vacation!

For more information contact Jacqueline: jacquelineb@gouniglobe.com or visit www.uniglobetraveldesigners.com.

It's Just Common Sense

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:25:00 -0400

Anytime I get the chance to share my thoughts with other women on how to become sassy, I’m one happy girlfriend! I was lucky enough to give a presentation to a group of awesome businesswomen with Key4women at Key Bank yesterday. Of course, I discussed the 6 steps to finding your inner sass— which was an extension of some of the principles that are presented in my book “31 Days to Finding Your Inner Sass”. I presented 6 key topics that are absolutely essential to happiness and success in your professional and personal life. I covered things like knowing your strengths, risk and change, communication skills, firm boundaries, baggage in your life and problem solving.

After the presentation, a woman came up to me and thanked me for sharing the information. And then she said, “You know, everything you talked about is just common sense. There’s nothing you spoke about that I already didn’t know”. I agreed with her wholeheartedly and told her that I was very aware of that fact. After I left the event, I spent the evening thinking about this.

In life, we get into our daily routines and go about our business. Often, we are so busy that we can’t see straight. We run from one meeting to the next, to picking up the dry cleaning, to picking up the kids, to running to the store, to running home to make dinner. We’re on overdrive and we’ve become quite proficient at getting as many things done at one time as possible. But the problem with this is the following— when we are running at such high speed and trying to fit everything into our schedule, we often miss the obvious.

Then suddenly, we stop and realize that we are unhappy. Whether it’s in our personal relationships or the satisfaction in our professional life, we know that something is just not right. It’s difficult for us to articulate exactly what the problem is, because we haven’t been feeling. We haven’t truly been checking in with ourselves to see how things are going. If we did, we wouldn’t be able to get all our “things” accomplished and, let’s face it; it’s just easier that way. Maybe we were feeling before and being diligent about leading a healthy life, but slowly, we fell back into our unhealthy patterns. When we do finally check in, we don’t like what we find and we’re not sure what to make of it or how to get out of this place.

Yes, all of what I stress to being important to your health, happiness and success in life is common sense. However, the truth is that few of us are actually living our lives in this healthy manner every single day. On some level, we’re aware of these important principles. Often, however, we just stick that thought as far back in our minds as possible so we can continue to get things done. Only until life seems to bubble over and smack us in the face can we ignore it.

That’s where I come into the picture. I’m the reminder that you need to make some changes in your life. I’m the cold water in your face, warning you that you can no longer ignore those little pesky issues that are holding you back from being your best in your career and personal life. Because here’s the thing— those pesky little issues, as common sense as they may be, become huge monster issues when left unaddressed. So I’m doing my best to make sure that you don’t let that happen. Here is your wake-up call, girlfriend— deal with that stuff now!

De-stress and Celebrate the Earth!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:22:00 -0400

We LOVE Earth Day at Baker Creative! In fact, we like nature so much we turned our property into a certified Wildlife Habitat. Restoring some of the landscape into its natural state proved to be beneficial to our employees as well as the environment.

Spending time outdoors can lower stress a significantly. Our employees say watching the birds, fish, squirrels and other woodland creatures helps them to unwind between complicated meetings and tight deadlines.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says that two-thirds of visits to the family doctor are stress-related.

We encourage you to consider to taking these super simple steps provided by the National Wildlife Foundationto convert your outdoor space into a certified wildlife habitat.

Provide food and water for wildlife.
Create cover for wildlife that offers protection from predators and a place for them to raise their offspring.
Certify away!

Have a great time and enjoy your new outdoor stress-free haven!

How To Simplify Your Financial Life

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:12:00 -0400

Chances are you just finalized your 2011 taxes. You probably tossed your documents and statements into a folder and took them to your tax preparer to do your tax return, and you now have them back, along with your finalized 2011 return.

Now is also the time of year you should be asking, “How do these statements factor into my financial strategy?” Financial strategy, you say? Yes, you need a financial strategy or plan to figure out what you want your future to look like and how to get there.

The documents for the tax preparer are the input required to build a financial plan. Of the things clients dread most is gathering that information. Well, congratulations. You have already done the leg work.

Let’s review what you have:

1. W2 statement of income

2. 1099 statements of interest and dividends from banks and investment accounts

3. Mortgage interest and tax information on your house

4. 1099s for any distributions you took from your retirement accounts

5. Capital gain or loss statements on your investments

6. Miscellaneous end of year statements from investments and bank accounts

7. 401k or 403b end of year statement

The next step identifies what the financial planner does. Once your documents are organized, it is time to analyze your current situation. The planner looks at your income requirements, debt and savings ability. From there, short term and long term goals are defined in one, three, five, and ten (or more) year increments. Your goals are then aligned with appropriate investments by the planner, with your input. The planner will recommend a set of investments that:

1. Fits your ability to handle risk

2. Provides you with short term cash for emergencies

3. Are diversified across many types of financial platforms

A good planner will also check to make sure that:

1. Mortgage term and rate is appropriate

2. Property insurance coverage is sufficient

3. Life insurance policies are current

4. Wills and trusts are current

5. Caregiver and care receiver needs are addressed

Once the plan is established and reviewed, the final phase is the maintenance phase; meeting with your planner annually to make updates to account for any life changes. The best time to meet is in the beginning of the year after you have gathered the information for tax purposes. Having a financial plan will take the emotion out of investing. Your planner will provide you with ideas and guidance that you may not have thought about or considered. But most importantly, the planner will help advise you on some very important financial decisions.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and call so you too can simplify an important aspect of your life; your personal financial plan!

Susan Finefrockis a trusted financial planner and investment advisor focusing on developing comprehensive financial planning, wealth preservation and retirement accumulation strategies.

Comprehensive financial planning includes; estate, trust, tax, college and retirement planning. Finefrock weaves a financial education philosophy into her client interactions, ensuring that each client has pertinent information to make informed decisions about their financial future. How to contact Susan Finefrock: (614) 942-1305 sfinefrock@woodburyfinancial.net; www.wmsllc.net

*Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc, P.O. Box 64284, St. Paul, MN 55164, (800) 800-2638, Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Branch office 575 Charring Cross Drive, Suite 100, Westerville, OH 43081 (614) 942-1305. Wealth Management Solutions and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. are not affiliated entities. Neither Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. nor its representatives offer tax or legal advice. For assistance with these matters, please consult your tax or legal advisor.

Tough Lessons in Leadership

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:19:00 -0400

Everywhere I go these days, I hear a lot of women talking about leadership. It appears to be the latest buzzword in the business world. So, in your opinion, what is the difference between being a manager and being a true leader?

My first job out of college was as an Assistant Manager in a Retail Store. I was trained to understand my job responsibilities and how to effectively perform each task. However, no one trained me how to actually handle employees. I vividly remember the first day that I was on my own and in charge of the store. I instructed one of the veteran employees, Mary, to merchandise the new clothes that had just been placed on the floor. Mary, who had been there for years, glared at me and loudly said “no”. She then refused to listen to me. I handled the response from her with finesse, professionalism and maturity; I went in the back room and cried alone in the corner.

But while I was in the back room crying and frustrated, something quite wonderful happened. I went from manager to leader in the next few minutes. I stopped crying and began to think about how I was going to accomplish my goal; getting Mary to respect my authority and work for me. I realized that I obviously needed a different tactic. I hatched my plan in the back room; my best strategy was to go back out there and appeal to her compassion.

I went out and asked if we could have a little talk. You see, I knew she had informal power in the store and could convince others of what ever she believed. This was why it was vital that I handle this situation delicately and appropriately. In our talk, I let down my guard and shared with her that I was struggling— this was all new to me and I really needed her help. I asked her if she would be kind enough to help me through this venture. Seeing me vulnerable, she jumped at the chance to help and support me. The truth is that while I was in the back crying, I had an epiphany. In the few weeks that I had worked with her, I noticed a few things about what made Mary “tick”. I understood what motivated Mary— she was a caregiver and wanted to be needed by others. Also, she wanted to be respected for her expertise and knowledge in the store. She was unimpressed by the recent confident college graduate that they had just hired.

From that day forward, I never had any trouble with Mary. In fact, Mary loved me and would do anything for me. In the end, Mary respected my work and encouraged me to move up in the company. In those few minutes where I lost my composure in the back, I internalized a lesson for a lifetime. I forever would understand the real difference between a manager and a leader. A manager is hired to complete tasks. A leader completes tasks but much, much more. A leader knows that in order to be truly effective, she needs to understand how to motivate and inspire each employee. A leader puts her own feelings aside to accomplish this goal because she sees beyond the short-term goal of completing tasks. The truth is, I knew I wanted to rise to the top, so I figured I better find a solution to my first simple dilemma in management. And I did.

Shari Goldsmith is a Women's Life Coach, Mental Health Therapist, Speaker and author of 31 Days to Finding Your Inner Sass. She can be reached at shari@sharigoldsmith.com To learn more about Shari, go to www.sharigoldsmith.com