Creating a Personal Brand

I just finished Gary Vaynerchuk's Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion and came away with a clearer idea of using social media to build a personal brand. Sure, it can be used extensively to build a business brand, too, but why not leverage it for building a personal one?

Most of the book is focused on how you can use social media tools to create a personal brand that is also a business - or can become one by way of creating such a strong personal brand.

What if creating a business is not what you are looking for?

Social media may still be the way to go. Gary's take on it is that social media is really the resume of the future (and I tend to agree for the most part). Your goal with a resume is to give someone in the hiring process enough information to want to interview you. Then you get to wade through the sea of interviews, educating everyone on that path about who you are and why all of that is good for their company.

What if you create a strong presence virtually instead? You can use social media to build your own platform and build your resume there. One of the great benefits of this is that you get to tell your own story over time, and you get to connect with others who are interested in what you have to say.

Eventually, one of those others may be the next career move for you. Even if changing jobs is not on your horizon, situations in business can change quickly. Your company gets bought. The new management team (and your new boss) have such a different view than you that it is suddenly time to go. You need to
move for family reasons.  The lives of busy professional women can change so quickly for so many reasons that taking firm control of your own destiny and personal brand is becoming more and more necessary.

Social media can help you be better prepared for all of these. Not on does it showcase your talents, it also shows that you are social media savvy. This is yet another skillset in your professional toolbox that will appeal to future employers.  Other vying for the same positions are using these tools to help them get the edge and fill positions that you may never know were available. 

As a busy professional woman, aren't you looking for the tools that give you the edge? Ones that not only make your professional life better and more complete but that also give you options and flexibility?

Are You Feeling March Madness?

It's here - March Madness!

For busy professional women, that isn't a reference to the NCAA basketball tournament. March Madness is usually characterized by the onslaught of employee requests for Friday afternoons off, the start of spring kids' sports seasons and a to-do list a mile long for spring cleaning, yard work and other tasks that had been hibernating.

It can be enough to make you want to crawl in that groundhog's burrow!

The toughest part can be that it feels like all of this is hitting at once. Events, invitations and to-dos are coming at you faster than the tulips are blooming. It can be overwhelming and tiring just thinking about the logistics. Yet, you know that you are better equipped to handle these multiple demands more than most. It is just a matter of getting systems and schedules into place to handle it all.

Here are 3 quick tips that you can use this week to help you maximize your time and tame that spring scheduling challenge:

March Madness...

• Map it out. Literally take everything you know about and put it on ONE calendar. Some of my clients keep separate calendars for work and home. One of the first things we do is put all of this in one place. It helps you immediately see conflicts between, say, an early morning sports practice and a 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting with a client. Plus, it is just more efficient to be able to look one place, one time.
• Get help - and give some too. Stop the guilt train in its tracks and realistically think about calling another neighborhood or school mom, your husband, your reliable babysitter and getting them lined up now. Don't wait until the day or the night before. It creates stress you don't need - whether due to the last minute rush or to the chance that no one is available. There will also be times that you can help - do it. Not because you owe anyone, but because helping others is part of what living a full life without settling is about.
• Say NO. The "N" and "O" were capitalized purposely. This is a strong statement for most busy women professionals and executives. It can feel like admitting defeat. It's not. It is taking a stand for what works in your life, your families' life and your world. Don't wallow in indecision thinking it will get easier either. It won't. Turn the guilt off. Turn the logic and balance on.

All of these steps are fairly simple in what they ask you to do. Yet, they may not seem easy once you try to implement them and really take action. If that seems to be true for you, start with one. Do it within the next 24 hours and see the difference it makes for you.

Then move on to the other two - can you see how you would use them over the coming week to gain some sanity and control over your spring schedule? Is it sharing carpooling duty to the soccer field? Maybe it’s being less involved in that spring charity fundraiser than last year. What about hiring the neighborhood teen to do the initial spring yard clean up?

Each of these tips work any time of the year, so feel free to share and use them over and over. Let me know how you are using these and if you pass them on!

Let's Party!

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

 

One of the great things about spring is the warmer weather. Getting outside in the sun and fresh air can restore your energy faster than a Starbucks' double espresso. Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration. Still, after a long winter, being able to get out and enjoy the change in seasons, do errands with the windows down and put those new sunglasses on is a great feeling.

With the first day of spring being right around the corner, it's time to get out there and soak up some of that new energy!

I realize that not everyone is enjoying the same spring weather - and that it is certainly not consistent at this time of year. Yet, somewhere over the next week or two, there will be at least one day that you can enjoy fully. Do one small thing on each nice day. Things like...

• Take a short walk and see the tulips and crocuses blooming.
• Buy a new pair of sunglasses for the coming season.
• Ride with the windows down in the car or open the sunroof (or the whole roof on the convertible!).
• Take advantage of more daylight by sitting outside in the evening - with a good book, a glass of wine or chatting with a good friend.
• Have coffee or lunch outside at the local cafe.
• Start wearing those spring clothes.

Go. Breathe. Enjoy!

Are You Trying to Make Your Job Bigger...or Smaller?

I am an unabashed Seth Godin fan.  He has the ability to play it straight, think ahead and really offer great, and even profound, insights about work, career and anything that remotely touches it.  Plus, he keeps moving forward (apologies to "Meet the Robinsons") - not waiting to see what the next big thing is or isn't.

In one of his recent blog posts, a characteristically short one, he notes that some people are working overtime to make their jobs smaller.  Sure, there are all kinds of reasons to do this and some of them go beyond the two that he lists.  For professional and executive women, there is a pull in both directions.

A pull to make your job smaller - or at least small enough to do it well and still be able to manage all your other priorities.  This is countered by the pull to keep or make your job big enough that it gives you the projects, recognition and personal fulfillment that you want in your career.  This is almost the defining career conundrum that has followed professional women for years.

Then, Seth adds a new spin to it.  Specifically, he notes that keeping your job small is a shame - "...exchanging your upside, energy, opportunity, growth and excitement for the freedom from thinking and a decrease in self-induced anxiety."

Is this you?  Are you caught up in the cycle of big vs. small when it comes to your career as you try to balance it with your other priorities that you've been caught in a cycle that just doesn't serve you?  Are you trying to balance an equation that is just outdated all the way around?

Do You Need A Spring Break?

Spring break can provide memories of sandy beaches or snowy slopes. These memories may be from family vacations, college trips or even casual time with friends. Some memories are recent while others may be a little more distant. Yet, they all tend to have a feeling of relaxation attached to them.

Yet, there are also ideas and thoughts of spring break that can be stressful - especially for busy professional women. It generally falls to you to plan time away from work, get everyone’s schedules coordinated when traveling with family and friends and ensure that it all works with the school calendar. It can start to feel like you need your very own personal spring break.

But what if taking a trip to a private island or a pampering spa aren’t part of your plans?

There are some quick and easy ways to find moments of relaxation, rejuvenation and balance in the midst of your busy life. These work any time of year, honestly, but you can use them to create your very own spring break starting today.

• Get an upbeat or laidback CD and listen to 15 minutes of it without interruption. Don’t settle for listening to it just as you are driving to work, to your next appointment or on the way to your kid’s sports practice. Anyone, yes, this means you, can find 15 minutes for a break. Pick a CD that reminds you of a spring break full of relaxation (whether real or just dreamed of). That may be one of fast-paced beach music with a Jamaican flare or one of gentle ocean sounds that make you remember rocking in a hammock under a palm tree.
• Buy yourself flowers. Spring is the season for flowers. As much as a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day is nice, seeing the first buds of spring brings a refreshing and renewing outlook that is hard to beat. Buy a springtime bouquet of daffodils, tulips, and other colorful spring flowers that breathe fresh air into your house or your office. Better yet, get some for both places!
• Change up your diet. Winter is filled with comfort foods that warm us from the inside out. Spring is a great time to change up what you are eating and start to “lighten up” whether you want to lose weight or not. Green is the color of spring – and so are yellows, reds, blues, purples. Find a way to bring these spring colors into your daily diet and renew yourself internally. The new, colorful and even lighter foods will get you ready for action just as those winter foods helped you stay comfy and warm in the winter.

Looking at these three simple ideas, what are you going to do this week? Is it downloading that beach CD onto your iPod? Maybe it’s taking a new look at the blueberries, strawberries and carrots on your trip to the grocery store. Could it be walking through the farmer’s market and picking out the perfect bouquet? Or maybe it’s all three!

One of the best parts of this version of spring break is that these are things you can do each week and each month to renew yourself and refresh your outlook without having to get on a plane. I’d love to hear how this works for you – and what other ideas you may have!

Are You Feeling Guilty Because of Technology?

As if they uncovered some great fact, a recent survey that was published in The Journal of Health and Social Behavior suggests that women "...feel 40% more distress than men when family life is frequently interrupted..." by cell phones, Blackberries and laptops. Yes, those very things that give us flexibility and make it possible to manage all of the priorities we have in our lives.


Blackberry Guilt?



To which I say...No Kidding!

Here's the thing or things.

Managing multiple priorities has been something that busy women professionals and executives have figured out how to do with or without the electronics age helping us along. Each new tool seems like a gift to help us with work-life balance...until it becomes an intrusion.

So, yes, five or ten years ago, cell phones were a gift. You could take that last office call in the car as you drove frantically to beat the closing of the daycare doors. You could answer your boss' or staff's questions while you were on your way to the volunteer board meeting. Work-life balance at its finest.

Then suddenly, you could also answer emails, review spreadsheets and proposals and get caught in the microwave society behavior that wants it all. Now. Right now. And, generally speaking, we all get caught up in the same mentality. We want responses immediately - as if we are having a 24/7 conversation. That means we are more likely to want and need to respond. The definition of urgency has changed to the point that nearly everything is urgent. There are few distinctions between what is truly in need of attention and what just happened to be the next topic in line.

It's this sense of urgency that has really made the evolution of technology harder to manage. Whether it's the technology that has prompted us to become hyper-responsive or whether we've needed that in business and technology is just now catchin up can be debated.

Regardless, the end result is that all of these devices started to become more attractive for business and less attractive for a balanced home life. How can you give your attention to one priority in your life when the other is buzzing in the background? How different is it really than having your toddler at work pulling on your hemline all day?

It's the boundaries that get murkier and fuzzier. The lines continue to blur - but are they blurring anyway except to create more work at home? Are you losing the lines you've tried so hard to draw as a professional woman who also has life outside of her career?

A Whole New Spin on Investment Diversity

When you hear the words "investment diversity," do you think of how much you have in bonds or stocks?  Maybe even large cap or small cap, growth or income.   This recent article put a whole new spin on diversity.  It points to research that suggests that companies with prominent female leadership generate strong financial results.  And, these aren't just luck returns either.

Recently, Catalyst honored McDonald's, Kaiser Permanente and Time Warner for their exceptional initiatives from organizations that support and advance women in business.  The standards are rigorous and look at a number of criteria beyond just the percentage of women executives or board members.  They also look at broader business criteria including business rationale, employee engagement and innovation.

Each of these company's took specific steps to increase the diversity of its women executives' ranks.  And, each had results that either outperformed relative benchmarks or showed marked improvement as the diversity also improved. 

 

You can argue that the link between diversity and performance are weak.  But consider this...

• Companies with diverse leadership are more likely to consider a variety of ideas.
• Women executives have different skill sets than their male counterparts - often resulting in better teamwork and achievement among the staff.
• Diversity usually results in a stronger organizational structure overall - one that can better weather the volatile economic climate.

Whether busy women executives can take all of the credit for the companies' improved performance or not, you can certainly take it into consideration when you think about where you want to work - and where you want to invest that hard-earned money from being a busy woman executive in your own company.

Where Are My Minions?

Before "Despicable Me" even came out in the theaters, my daughter was trying to describe the premise.  Among other things, she talked about Gru having minions - the little yellow guys in the movie who are going to help him take over the world. 

The possibilities of having minions!

I immediately said that I wanted some minions - not to take over the world, mind you, but a couple of extra hands to do my bidding would help immensely on most days.  (My son says that he and his sister are my minions which I am not buying because they actually don't do my bidding most days.)

Ahh...but some help who didn't ask questions, challenge my brilliant decisions and get things done in record time?  THAT I could get used to. 

Alas, I didn't have this in my 20 years' of corporate life, and I have yet to find it anywhere else.  It does make me think, though, of a list of things that I would readily hand off or delegate and of what I would spend that extra precious time on.  It also makes me think hard about why I don't take some action to create a minion force of my own - at least in a manner of speaking.

Why is it so hard to ask another mom to manage my daughter onto the bus when I have a breakfast meeting (yes, it's the same bus her daughter rides)?

Why do I feel like I have to continually justify having someone clean the house every 2 weeks (especially when I'd really like to have it done weekly)?

Why do I feel like treats should be homemade (although not at school because that's some sort of accreditation/allergy issue)?

Why do I hold myself responsible for the general stability and day-to-day running of the household when there is one other highly responsible adult and 2 getting-there kids?

I think getting minions might actually be easier than answering these questions!  Sure, I have made amazing progress on my journey - and can help you along the path that I've traveled - but the evolution continues. 

What about you?  Are you still looking for your minions - and letting that keep your from creating the life you truly desire as a busy woman executive? 

What Is Your Definition of Balance?

Not a week goes by that you don’t see some sort of article or comment on work-life balance or some equivalent.  Oddly enough, it is usually women who are the subject of these musings even though men can have similar issues.  But, we’re not talking about them here – we’re talking about you as a busy executive who wants to find a better balance.

The first key is to determine what you really want your balance to be.  You may want to work 60 hours a week – or maybe 20 hours.  You may want or need to spend time with older parents or younger kids.  You may want to focus on your health, take art classes or travel.  Until you determine these priorities, though, finding your personal balance can be elusive.

Here are some questions you ask yourself right now to figure out what balance means to you.

·         Are you frequently feeling stress or guilt about not paying attention to certain parts of your life (health, family, friends, career)?  Be honest with yourself without being judgmental.  Don’t rationalize your feelings away by assuming that everyone else is also stressed, and it is just the way it has to be.  It may actually take some time to get to how you really feel simply because you have become so ingrained in the patterns of a busy executive’s life.

·         If you could redesign your life with no limits, what would it look like?  You can start by thinking of this as a “dream life” if that helps.  No limits applies to money, time and location.  See it in your mind and write it down.   Does this redesigned life look like your current life?  If not, how is it different?  What areas would you spend more time in and which ones would get less? 

·         What is a perfect “normal” day for you?  What is part of it – and what isn’t?  A “perfect” day can start to look like a mini-vacation, and that’s not what you are going for in this answer.  Would it include exercise and plenty of healthy foods with time to actually eat them?  Would it be leaving the office on time to attend your child’s game or have dinner with a friend?  Would it simply be that you will feel energized and creative at work with plenty of that same energy available at the end of the day?  How is this day different than the ones you recently experienced? 

In reflecting on these questions, what you have you learned?  Do you see things that now need to change?   What part of your day or your life is working really well?  What baby step can you implement this week to move you closer to the balance you want?

(Note:  This article came from the February 22nd edition of my Having It All! newsletter.  To get articles and other great content like this, you can sign up to receive the newsletter at http://www.peeklifestylecoaching.com/ (before you enter the main site), along with the OTHER items in my “How To Have It All Without Losing Your Mind” Sanity Kit for Busy Women Executives (completely FREE and designed to give you crucial information that you can act on immediately to create the life you truly desire).

Random Acts of Kindness

Today is February 14th...Valentine's Day...a day filled with love, flowers and candy.  It is also the first day of Random Acts of Kindness week.  The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation  is inviting everyone to take the Extreme Kindness Challenge.  They suggest an act of kindness for the day, and you go do it.


As nice as the idea is, it can really feel like one more obligation, one more thing on your to-do list.  Valentine's Day can feel the same way since it seems to have grown to be a very celebrated holiday.  There are all of the Valentine's Day school obligations (boxes, cards, candy, party treats), cards and gifts for family and significant others and the madness of getting a dinner reservation or cooking a full course meal at home.

Be randomly kind to yourself!

It's enough to make you want to boycott a day that should be giving you a warm fuzzy feeling. 

So how can you "feel the love" and even be part of a random act of kindness without adding stress? 

Start with yourself first.

That's right.  This Valentine's Day kick off a week of being randomly kind to yourself.  You can use the suggestions from the Random Acts of Kindness website or make up your own.  Your list could include:

• A long bubble bath
• A glass of wine and 30 minutes with a favorite book
• 15 minutes sitting in the sun (it's finally getting warm enough to think about this!)
• A solitary lunch at a favorite cafe (take a book if you want)
• Lunch with a friend that just seems to keep getting postponed
• A Skype date with a long-distance friend or relative
• Whatever makes you smile!

What ideas can you come up with on your own?  Which one are you going to do first?  I would love to hear what your ideas are and how they turn out.

Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S. - Of course, you can be randomly kind to others too!  Just don't forget to fill up your own tank along with everyone else's...

Life Is A Chance...Be Daring

"All life is a chance. So take it! The person who goes furthest is the one who is willing to do and dare."  - Dale Carnegie

When I read this quote, I immediately thought of the chances I have taken in my personal life...starting several businesses, having kids, travelling. And then I thought that such a list, while exciting, isn't really the whole picture of who I am.

What about my corporate career - and moving to a new group only to find it meaningless after a merger was announced?

What about creating a new network of resources and contacts when I changed jobs, started a new business and successfully sold another?

What about the entirely new way of thinking about eating, exercising and other self-care investments that started as I approached 40 - resulting in loads of energy (and the letting go of 20+ pounds)?


How are you being daring in YOUR life?



There are chances we take and pass up every day. Some are as simple as trying new food or going ice skating with your kids. Some are as daring as walking away from an energy-draining job or friendship that has been part of your life for years. Of course, all involve a choice. Being daring doesn't mean, though, that your choice has to be to act or do something.

Being daring and willing to do can also mean NOT doing. It can mean starting to say "no" more often and set boundaries that give us (back) the life we crave. It can mean that we no longer follow the crowd to a hectic, subdivision life of "normal" jobs, kids' sports, SUVs and Florida vacations. It can mean that we say "yes" to ourselves more often - even if that is just a bubble bath instead of one more hour at the office.

What can you do this week that is daring? What would taking that chance, stepping out of your mold do for you, your family, your friends?

Is Your Bacon Burned?

Recently, a friend of mine (a mom with a full-time corporate job and a full family life) made the following post on Facebook:

Remember the jingle from the early 80's where the woman danced and sang..."I can bring home the bacon and I can fry it up in a pan"? Well, here's to hoping that woman has a full-time job, traveling husband, three busy kids and is as STRESSED out as I am right now! I hope her bacon is burned!

I'm sure you can imagine the chorus of supporting voices who joined in!

Does this sound like your life...or maybe just the life of someone you know?

Stress can seep into every corner of your day and literally make you want to burn that bacon - or someone else's. Here are some quick tips to help you destress quickly and be better able to handle the rest of your day (or night).

• Take 10 deep, slow breaths. In less than one minute, your heart rate will approach normal and you will be in a much better frame of mind to deal with work pressures, family life and even rush hour.
• Take a quick walk. Outside, inside, whatever. Just change your scenery. Five minutes of physical movement, especially if you can combine it with fresh air, can change your mood and your perspective.
• Take a musical break. Music can change your mood almost immediately - especially if you choose the right kind to do just that. What is the "right kind?" It is the music that makes you smile and your toes tap. For me, that is nearly always '80's music (I know - I'm dating myself). For you, it could be Sinatra or Lady Gaga.
• Let go of perfection.  Whether you breathe, walk or groove through it, letting go of the ideal (bringing home the bacon and frying it up in a pan) may be the biggest long-term sanity maker in your life.  It's not easy - doing really well is what you do.  Going for less than perfection can seem odd at first, but it will give you the option to focus on your real priorities instead of trying to do it all perfectly.

What's even better than doing one of these? Combining them! Listen to some relaxing music while taking those 10 deep breaths. Grab your MP3 and take it on your walk.  And, of course, you can let a little of that perfection go with every breath or every step.

Try just one of these the next time your bacon is burning...and let me know how it goes!

Energy In the Pits? Maybe It Is Your Wardrobe

I read an interesting article recently about women and energy.  One of the items highlighted in it had to do with your energy being zapped because of your wardrobe choices. 

That didn't come as a big surprise to me.  Most women I know, especially busy professional women, have more energy and are more confident when they feel comfortable and also feel that they look their best.  This is often the result of favorite outfits that fit them well.

What did surprise me was what the article actually had to say about common professional outfits on energy levels - it wasn't at all what I expected. 

It stated that women who tend to wear professional dress, such as slim skirts and heels, are more likely to have less energy.  Why?  Because, on average, they take 491 fewer steps throughout the day than women who wear more casual dress.  This is less physical movement (even if you don't think of it as exercise) and that equates to lower real energy levels regardless of the confidence boost...yes, even on that day (not just over time although that is an impact, too!)

That isn't a green light to start schlepping - comfort and office fashion don't have to mutually exclusive.  It does mean that putting just a little more thought into the various side effects of your wardrobe choices is well worth it.  The more energy you have, the more able you will be able to keep up not only at work but also in the rest of your life.  So, find a place in your day for more comfortable shoes - even if that means carrying your stilletos in a stylish bag to wear just around the office or for that big meeting.  Or consider wearing fashionable pantsuits that look best with the latest styles of mid to low heels - and make you likely to walk more.

Who wouldn't want to make a change this easy to up that energy level?

A Traveler Interview Featuring...

In my January 1st blog post, I talked about how we really enjoy traveling as a family and that this is a key part of the lifestyle we've created over the past several years.  It didn't happen all at once, but it did happen because we deliberately focused on what we wanted to create in our lives. 

And, now we've been featured on the Traveling With the Jones travel blog as part of a Traveler Chat series of interviews!  It's a great way to share with a new group of people what this means to us - and there's even a tip on how traveling helps busy women executives let go of the stress and overwhelm they can feel.

Check out the full interview here - and be sure to let me know what you think!

Jennifer

Is It Just Me Or Is It Cold In Here?

I tend to get cold easily.  When I worked in an office, even when we went business casual, I dressed in layers - jackets, sweater ensembles, and the like.  In that corporate environment, I had little control over the temperature - unless you count the contraband space heaters we had.

Working in a home office, I should have more control over lots of things - including the temperature.  Yet, when I thought it was chilly, my first reaction was to assume it was just me.  Possibly the power of suggestion with the 8 inches of snow on the ground and the subzero temperatures.  And I kept thinking that same way and just put on another layer, grabbed a cup of hot tea and considered gloves with the fingers cut out (better for typing).

But it wasn't just me being a cold weather wimp.

As the thermostat kept going down and the year-old furnace ran constantly, I started thinking it really wasn't just me.  But it took THREE DAYS to get there.  Granted, we kept thinking it would get better as the weather got warmer (moving from subzero to the teens - heat wave!).  It didn't.  It got colder instead. 

And we started moving space heaters from room to room as we went.

Until we finally called someone...and found out the compressor was out.  Now, I know very little about furnaces or any heating and cooling systems in general.  Except that I know that a compressor is a big deal.  So we feel smart and relieved for calling in the pros.  And we feel a bit stupid (yes, stupid) for waiting three cold days to do it.

In the grand scheme of things, it's a minor inconvenience.  Still, it made me think about other things like that.  What other things in my life, my lifestyle, my relationships, my work do I put up with because I assume "it's just me"?  When is it time to stop settling and call in the pros?

What answers do you get when you ask yourself those same questions?

Getting Ahead in 2011

Busy women executives and managers lead demanding lives. Whether you are at the beginning of the road to being an executive or already farther down the path, there are a number of things you can be doing to get ahead faster and, frankly, with less hard work (e.g., hours in the office). And, even if you aren't looking to get promoted or head for the corner office, you want to be seen as a valuable employee and selected for those prime opportunities and projects.

How is this possible when less than 15% of executive positions are held by women and still earn about 81 cents for every dollar earned by a man? Don't we have to try harder? Or not be ourselves and start really playing the man's game?

Not necessarily - but we do need to stop hurting ourselves by not taking advantage of options already at our fingertips. This is even more true as you strive to create a life of joy and balance - one where you get to call the shots in your office and make time for your family and friends...and yourself.

As this recent CNN.com article points out, there are some simple ways to do this. Here are a few highlights from the article.

• Quit thinking the workplace is fair. It's not. Use your energy to accomplish something by addressing things you can control (like your own performance). And, if it's truly a discriminative environment, use your energy to find another opportunity.
• Speak up. Call attention to your work and ask for new projects. And don't be afraid to ask for a raise.
• Don't ever, ever cry at work. Being able to deal with challenging situations is a sign of maturity and builds your credibility.
• Use additional work time to network instead of hunkering down at your desk. Sure, cranking out the work is important, but building relationships is equally or even more important as you work your way up the ladder.
• The way you talk and dress matters. You can never make a first impression twice. But, even if you have the job, you can build your reputation of credibility and promotability by acting as if you are at a higher level. Building the perception that you are capable to "fitting in" to a senior position will help those who can influence assignments and promotions think favorably of you when there are opportunities. Perceptions matter. Manage them.

Seem overwhelming or not sure how to fit all this into a balanced life? Sign up for your complimentary Gracefully Balance It All strategy session, and we'll create an immediate action plan for you to get started!

Self Improvement Gifts 5 Offers 100s of FREE Personal Growth Related Products, Services & Memberships

I wanted to let you know today about a Self Improvement site that will allow you to download 100’s of self help gifts. And the best part is that it is absolutely FREE!

If you’ve had enough of plodding along year after year and you want to improve yourself to make 2011 your BEST ever year, then you need to go here: http://selfimprovementgifts5.com/go/909

Self Improvement 5 will be open only for a VERY LIMITED TIME from January 6th to January 27th 2011.
When you go there you’ll find a multitude of products – all FREE – provided by Self Improvement and Marketing experts from all over the world. Here is just a small sample of what you will find:
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* And TONS (OVER 700+) MORE!

Get all of these and 100’s more here: http://selfimprovementgifts5.com/go/909

The organizers of the event are Stephanie Mulac, Carolyn Hansen and Dr. Joe Rubino.

Just briefly, this is Stephanie’s 4th Self Improvement Giveaway. Stephanie started this style of event in 2006. It’s in the form of a “Giveaway” which is sort of like a giant electronic trade fair where 100’s of experts offer their products free to the public.

Because it has become so popular, this year Stephanie has enlisted the services of Carolyn Hansen, renowned fitness professional, and Self Exteem Expert, Dr. Joe Rubino.

You only have to walk into any book store in any country to see how popular the subjects of self improvement, self awareness and personal development are. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry churning out hundreds of new books, audios, CD’s and other paraphernalia every year.

These can be very expensive but at http://selfimprovementgifts5.com/go/909 you can pick this information up completely FREE.

With 2011 upon us, what better time is there than right NOW to set yourself and your business up for future success? This event is a life-changing experience for those who take it.

Come and join Stephanie, Carolyn, Joe and me and see for yourself.

If you want to grab the largest collection of self improvement and internet marketing products you’ll find ANYWHERE – all FREE – then go to http://selfimprovementgifts5.com/go/909 NOW and claim your bounty!

New Year...Goals or Resolutions?

I don't really think of myself as the resolution type. I'm sure part of this is based on the collective cultural data (real and perceived) that resolutions are not really long-term - and most don't make it past the first of March.

All of this is almost like knowing that there is some sort of defeat just waiting around the corner...

Ugh. That is clearly not motivating.

Goals, on the other hand, give you something to strive for. Plus, they tend to be talked about in the positive sense whether you are setting, tracking or achieving them. Even when you say "I didn't meet my goal" you are often miles ahead of where you would have been had you never set a goal to start with.

So...no resolutions for me this year. Instead I have a brand-new set of goals and a shiny new 3 year grand plan that is pulling me forward into 2011.

What about you? Are you the resolution type or do you prefer goals...or maybe neither one? Be sure to share your thoughts!

What I Did on My Christmas Vacation

Sounds like a school essay title...

I can only wish that I could have had this type of Christmas vacation growing up. Although maybe not. Maybe it is better to be experiencing it as an adult, knowing that we are creating amazing memories and experiences for our kids, our family, each other now.

So...what exactly did I do on my Christmas vacation?

You can find out here...Peek Family Adventures

Enjoy!