I’m Just a Girl in the World

Caveat: This is my story, and I’m sticking to it. Most of my blog posts won’t be so “me-centric,” but I have a story to tell and will feel much better after I do. I also hope that it will serve as a lesson for others who may find themselves in the same situation…an act of “protecting my kind,” if you will. With that said, here goes…

I’ve always done the right thing. In school I was the good student and at work I am and always have been a highly regarded employee. Once upon a time, people appreciated that! I have unfortunately learned the hard way the past few weeks that sure, it’s still appreciated. But not in the way I expected. My ideas – my thoughts – my goals – my hard work – can, and have been, snatched away in the blink of an eye. Maybe not surprising to some, who have been in business for a long time. But for me? Yes, it certainly is a surprise, but an even bigger disappointment. I’ve decided to be positive though and will think of this as a huge eye-opener and an invaluable learning experience!

“Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I’m exposed
And it’s no big surprise”

I have a new friend, Mallie Hart, who issued a blogging challenge through her business, Media Barista. Not just any blogging challenge, mind you – a blogging challenge with a “twist.” Like myself, she has a love of music, especially indie and alternative tunes. Some of the songs in this genre are really “out there,” and I didn’t think I could live up to such a bold challenge. She’s posting a blog a day this February, which I find to be beyond impressive! However, as I mentioned above, I ended up changing my own tune the past couple of weeks. I actually found a song that matches my circumstances perfectly. I’m using “Just a Girl” as my new theme song. This song verbalizes the beginning of the end of an era for me…because I’m now armed and ready for battle! Sure, I’m “just a girl in the world”; but no longer a naive one!

“Cause I’m just a girl, little ‘ol me
Don’t let me out of your sight
I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don’t let me have any rights

Oh…I’ve had it up to here!’

I learned a lot the past year as an online marketing director for a small B2B firm (not IBM), which I will no longer name. I helped grow their business through blogging, SEO and networking. Before becoming involved in social media and online marketing for them, I built the company’s research department for them. When I started working there, they were doing research, but the process was neither effective nor efficient. Over the course of a few months, I put some best practices in place, continually evaluated and improved them, and put a team of individuals together. The team and research not only improved the company’s process…they exceeded customer’s expectations. Blew a few away, as a matter of fact. Credit and praise were bestowed on me and things were good.

The company’s CEO decided a year or so ago it was time to dabble in social media and online marketing. I was pegged to head things up and I took on the challenge with enthusiasm. I took the proper steps – blogging, growing followers, learning SEO, etc. Things seemed to be going well – leads started coming in and a couple of closes, too. The problem? It wasn’t enough! Mind you, this company has been doing direct marketing, mainly telemarketing, for its clients for 15 years. They completely understand the amount of time it takes to build up a client base, and they have finally gotten comfortable with the number of clients doing business with them. My handful of leads just wasn’t enough. Oh, did I mention I work with a bunch of men? Yeah, it’s a typical “boys club.”

“I’m just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some”

So, what’s a girl to do? This girl has decided enough already, she’s “had it up to here.” I am excited to have the chance to take hold of my ideas – my thoughts – my goals – my hard work. My life-long dream has been to start and run my own business…and I am about to do just that! I registered for my own LLC today and the ball is rolling! My final words for now?

“I’m just a girl, lucky me”

When Will Gender Bias Ever End?

There’s no denying that women in business have come a long way, but some say gender discrimination continues to hold them back.  Times are changing though and women have been emerging as leaders in business for quite some time. The battle for women as leaders continues on with no end in sight.  Will gender bias ever end?

“Sometimes your gender can hinder you from showing your ability because a prospect doesn’t believe you are capable,” says Ranjini Poddar, the co-founder and president of the Cedar Knolls, N.J.,-based technology consultancy Artech Information Systems.  Although that type of struggle can certainly have a chilling effect, Poddar says it just makes her work harder. “We’re in a very competitive industry, and you have to show that you’ve been successful at delivering for other clients,” she says. “In the end, results count.”

Those are my sentiments exactly.  If it’s the results that count, then why should anyone be concerned with the way successful results are achieved?  I have a co-worker who adamantly pointed out today that having a woman as a spokesperson for one of our companies only makes him think that it will appear as if we are exploiting a female to “pander” to men.  He feels this is ineffective in the long run and insulting to our clients.  I disagreed with him by saying that if a woman is the right person to deliver the company’s message with the passion and knowledge it deserves, then gender should not even be a consideration.  It would not be considered “pandering,” especially now that we are part of the 21st century.  Women in business face enough adversity as it is…we should not have to face such bias by our own male coworkers on top of it.

I would like to know your thoughts on how women are treated in your workplace.  Are they seen as being beneficial or does gender bias still exist?

 

Related articles

• Tune in for Gender Discrimination (blog-aauw.org)
• Sexism: Is it still an issue? (jennifershewmaker.com)
• Gender Bias Persists in Economies Worldwide (b4lon.wordpress.com)

Cold Calling to Win

Cold Calling is Nothing New

 

You can find pros everywhere – in sports, at the gym, in the arts, and even in your office.  Sales and marketing pros are those who have achieved success in the industry by creating sales opportunities and ultimately closing their deals.  One way they do this is by mastering the art of the “cold call.”  Such calls are at the core of the universe for those of us in sales and marketing.  Like it or not, we are daily faced with making them.  Instead of feeling fear (which is often transmitted to the prospect on the other end of the phone), we should dive in with the confidence these calls deserve.  These are some suggestions to convert cold calls into “wins” every time:

 

 

Mental Preparation – The Warm-up

• Make “failure is NOT an option” your mantra.
• Keep the end in mind as your goal.  The call is only a step in the right direction towards a nice commission check, a huge bonus, or a fancy dinner with your spouse.
• Be prepared to get a YES!  All successful sales cold callers have a positive expectancy of their efforts. 

Practice, Drill & Rehearse – Get Your Game On

• Role-play the conversations and common objections with your boss and/or co-workers prior to the campaign.  That way you are ready when you get your prospect on the phone.
• Have your introduction (value statement) prepared and rehearsed in advance so you can avoid those “ah’s,” “um’s,” stops and pauses.

Game Time – Put Your Game Face On

• Dial with confidence. If you are timid or unsure this will likely be communicated to the caller through your voice.
• Introduce yourself to the prospect politely and confidently.  Request his or her permission for 30 to 50 seconds of their time.  You don’t have much time to make a 1^st impression.
• Speak clearly and distinctly.  Try to match your tone to that of the prospect on the other line.
• Remember to LISTEN. We have heard some pros on the phone that interrupt a prospect while he or she is speaking. It is said you can’t learn much while you are talking.  2 ears, 1 mouth. 

Embrace the “No” – The Cool-Down

• Don’t let the “No’s” get you down.  Keep in mind that “No’s” are necessary, too.  If everyone said “yes”, there wouldn’t be much use for “salesmen/saleswomen.”  Also, the commissions would hardly be motivating.
• Every “No” leads you that much closer to a “Yes” in the funneling process.  When you hear a “no” rejoice and say NEXT!  A “YES” is coming.

So there you have it – what is stopping you from picking up that phone?  Take a deep breath, put a smile on your face, and nothing can stop you from winning on your next call.

5 Reasons I’m Connecting on LinkedIn

So, Are We "Linked In" Yet?

Ask your friends and coworkers which social media they like best.  Most likely they will chime in with the most popular venues such as Facebook and Twitter.  I did have one friend who admitted to the rotary phone as his favorite, but I think/hope he was joking!  I personally have been a long-time fan of LinkedIn, which many people have yet to accept as a viable form of social media.

Here are my reasons I connected on LinkedIn and will continue to do so:

1)     LinkedIn is certainly a great resource for recruiters and job-seekers and it provides a very good way to research companies and its current employees.  I like to refer to LinkedIn as the Facebook for the workforce (or those trying to get back into it).

2)     I have recently joined a few LinkedIn groups for the specific purpose of networking.  I have gained hundreds of new connections over the past few months.  Although I know only a handful of these people in real life, it is a thrill for me to have connections now with people all over the world.  I was “kicked out” of a LinkedIn networking group this week though because I chose to network outside this one group and did not know there were any restrictions.  According to the manager of this particular group cross-networking is a big “no-no” for her group and if I did not leave the other groups, she would have to kick me out.  I saved her a step and left her group.  I learned the hard way that some groups have a few rules…not necessarily a bad thing.  Although it felt a little bit like being snubbed from middle school clubs at the time.  I’m over it though.

3)     It turns out there are currently over 500,000 groups in LinkedIn, including many for non-work related interests — alumni associations, hobby groups, special interest groups, just to name a few.  I’ve enjoyed connecting with alumni from my university for example.  I have also found like-minded individuals in other groups that cater to my many interests outside of work.  Yes, I do have a few, but I don’t always know where to find spare time.

4)     I have also recently joined a few groups to help me in my quest for social media knowledge.  Believe me, there are a lot of groups that serve that purpose!  As well as providing information on everything social media, many of these groups have encouraged its members to share their Facebook pages and Twitter handles in order to gain additional followers….at no cost.  What a deal!  It combines the best of all worlds…I have been able to follow and be followed on Twitter and to Like & be Liked on Facebook by so many different people and groups I would not have known about otherwise.  The world has gotten smaller….I think it’s great!

5)     My final reason for connecting on LinkedIn is that I truly believe with a little more time and a lot more technology it will eventually join the ranks of Facebook and Twitter.  And I will have a few bragging rights at last since I have been on LinkedIn a lot longer than the other two!

Related articles

• How Are You Using LinkedIn Groups? (mediabistro.com)
• LinkedIn & Twitter Combine to Make a Great Team (via Mr LinkedIn’s Blog) (paulevery.wordpress.com)
• LinkedIn groups remain excellent networking opportunity for lawyers (kevin.lexblog.com)

5 Management Lessons I Learned From My Cats

This is one smart kitty

Have you ever noticed that cats are extremely intelligent creatures?  They just seem to know how to get away with things like ignoring people and sticking to their own timetables and they have taught us humans how to accept it!  I think cats are fine animals and have always had at least one in my home.  Currently there are 2 who have deemed it suitable to occupy the same space as my family and me.  When they take the time to acknowledge my existence I have been able to observe and learn from them. 

Here are 5 lessons I have learned from cats that can be useful for managers of all levels:

1. Listen:  Everyone wants to be heard.  It is very important to know when to listen and even more important to pay attention.
2. Be available:  True, it’s easier to get more work done when you can hide behind closed doors.  Being accessible promotes trust and camaraderie with the people around you though.  This is beneficial especially when times are rough or morale is low.
3. Take time to rest:  Getting enough rest and sleep benefits your memory, functioning, and mood.
4. Appreciate your people:  It will be reciprocated.
5. Know when to ask for help:  It is definitely not a sign of weakness.  Do not be afraid to request help from those who can provide it.

Cats really do seem to know what works and it seems to come naturally to them.  Who knows what other lessons they can provide?

One Good Turn – Make Mine a Double

The idiom goes, “one good turn deserves another,” and is defined as “a kindness that is properly met with another kindness.”¹ This can be applied in the workplace as well.  I am not necessarily talking about random acts of kindness — I am thinking more along the lines of recognition for a job well done. When someone does something nice for me in my office I feel the size of that kindness really does not matter. It could be a simple “thank you,” or a cash bonus.  Of course, I don’t mind receiving both!

When I think of jobs well done I think of the jury that was seated for the Casey Anthony trial.  Many of us watched on July 5th as the jury delivered the verdicts regarding the death of her 2-year-old daughter.  Reactions were mixed, ranging from surprise and disappointment to shock, and even outrage, when the jury acquitted Casey of murder or manslaughter in her daughter’s death.  What some people may have forgotten, or not even considered, was the 33 days of testimony, 400 pieces of evidence, and more than 90 witnesses this jury had to sort through to reach their verdict.  Their reward maybe included a few dollars a day, a place to sleep, food to eat – their lives put on hold – to determine the fate of a young woman who has become a household name.  Was the result of their work a “good turn”?  Casey Anthony probably thinks so.  With her second chance she will now have the opportunity to observe or be a part of a good turn herself.

I am guessing that the majority of us who do the “9-5” work week have it a lot easier than that jury.  However, we are still expected to do what we do to the best of our abilities.  Some people have managers that are generous with their praise and recognition.  The employees with this extra boost most likely feel appreciated and the end result is a positive work environment.  Others come to work every day, grind it out, and only look forward to their next paycheck.  The only time they receive feedback is when something has gone awry and they are somehow involved.  These people may feel their work environment is unstable and full of unknowns about the future.  Other managers may not provide any feedback whatsoever.  What a desolate situation that must be.

For which management type and environment would you rather work?  Perhaps it depends a lot on the type of  job you have and your own personality.  Either way you can take some time and notice that there are good turns in your work environment.  Some are obvious but others you may have to search a little harder to find…but know that they do exist.

¹  one good turn deserves another. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/one good turn deserves another

5 Reasons I’m Connecting on LinkedIn

So, Are You "Linked In" Yet?

Ask your friends and coworkers which social media they like best.  Most likely they will chime in with the most popular venues such as Facebook and Twitter.  I did have one friend who admitted to the rotary phone as his favorite, but I think/hope he was joking!  I personally have been a long-time fan of LinkedIn, which many people have yet to accept as a viable form of social media.

Here are my reasons I connected on LinkedIn and will continue to do so:

1)     LinkedIn is certainly a great resource for recruiters and job-seekers and it provides a very good way to research companies and its current employees.  I like to refer to LinkedIn as the Facebook for the workforce (or those trying to get back into it).

2)     I have recently joined a few LinkedIn groups for the specific purpose of networking.  I have gained hundreds of new connections over the past few months.  Although I know only a handful of these people in real life, it is a thrill for me to have connections now with people all over the world.  I was “kicked out” of a LinkedIn networking group this week though because I chose to network outside this one group and did not know there were any restrictions.  According to the manager of this particular group cross-networking is a big “no-no” for her group and if I did not leave the other groups, she would have to kick me out.  I saved her a step and left her group.  I learned the hard way that some groups have a few rules…not necessarily a bad thing.  Although it felt a little bit like being snubbed from middle school clubs at the time.  I’m over it though.

3)     It turns out there are currently over 500,000 groups in LinkedIn, including many for non-work related interests — alumni associations, hobby groups, special interest groups, just to name a few.  I’ve enjoyed connecting with alumni from my university for example.  I have also found like-minded individuals in other groups that cater to my many interests outside of work.  Yes, I do have a few, but I don’t always know where to find spare time.

4)     I have also recently joined a few groups to help me in my quest for social media knowledge.  Believe me, there are a lot of groups that serve that purpose!  As well as providing information on everything social media, many of these groups have encouraged its members to share their Facebook pages and Twitter handles in order to gain additional followers….at no cost.  What a deal!  It combines the best of all worlds…I have been able to follow and be followed on Twitter and to Like & be Liked on Facebook by so many different people and groups I would not have known about otherwise.  The world has gotten smaller….I think it’s great!

5)     My final reason for connecting on LinkedIn is that I truly believe with a little more time and a lot more technology it will eventually join the ranks of Facebook and Twitter.  And I will have a few bragging rights at last since I have been on LinkedIn a lot longer than the other two!

Related articles

• How Are You Using LinkedIn Groups? (mediabistro.com)
• LinkedIn & Twitter Combine to Make a Great Team (via Mr LinkedIn’s Blog) (paulevery.wordpress.com)
• LinkedIn groups remain excellent networking opportunity for lawyers (kevin.lexblog.com)