Maybe you received the email offering cash in exchange for testing the Microsoft/AOL email tracking system. Or you heard that theaters were using subliminal advertising to increase sales of popcorn and soft drinks. Maybe it was the “buy one, get one free” Porsche promotion that caught your attention, or the warning that reusing plastic water bottles is unhealthy since components breakdown and are ingested. The fact that these are all false didn\’t stop thousands of people from forwarding them, repeating them, or believing them. Two of these even made it into the top twenty-five... Read More

Involved in an expensive developmental workshop, Chad volunteered first when the facilitator queried the group about their objectives. It was the morning session of a weekend event that a friend of mine was conducting, and she\’d asked me to sit-in. So, on a Saturday morning when I\’d normally be sleeping, I found myself listening to Chad\’s frustrations about his lack of success, his inflexible boss, and his difficult coworkers. What sounded like normal workplace frustrations most people experience from time to time changed abruptly when my friend asked Chad if it had always... Read More

Henry Ford is reported to have quipped, “Why is it that I always get the whole person when what I really want is a pair of hands?” The 21st century version doesn\’t sound quite like that, but its essence prevails in plenty of workplaces. The functional equivalent of Ford\’s thinking is housed in statements from supervisors, managers, and coworkers like: “What do you mean her kid is sick again, and I have to do her work?” “I know he\’s having a rough time at home, but he has to leave it at the door.” Or “I\’m sorry his father died... Read More

As a frequent conference speaker, I take advantage of other presentations when my schedule allows. So, I was delighted recently, with three hours to spare before heading to the airport, to hear best selling author of Built to Last, Jim Collins, address an Atlanta group. It was the story he told about interviewing management guru, Peter Drucker, that I\’ve thought of several times since. It stayed with me partially because I\’m a Drucker fan, since his wisdom and insights helped me during my twenty years in management, and partially because it captured an interesting orientation about... Read More

While there are numerous aspects to being a successful entrepreneur that transcend life stage, there are challenges and opportunities unique to being a boomer woman in business. Being aware of your individual perspective as a boomer entrepreneur is important because it will help you navigate your business more effectively. Unlike younger entrepreneurs, boomers have a wisdom that comes from a life lived and lessons learned. You know who you are and what you have to offer…and that it has value. You also have more work experience, as you may have been in one industry for thirty years and seen... Read More

Seated at the table next to me at a fast food restaurant, I couldn\’t help hearing the lack of conversation between a young woman and a younger uniformed man, clearly employees of the establishment. “You need to take pride in your work,” she told him. There was no response. “I told you last week, to start taking more pride in your work, but I don\’t see any improvement,” she stated. This one way conversation went down hill from there. He kept glancing at her with a confused look as she repeated her unvaried message. Finally, the high school employee muttered... Read More

Many boomer business owners think they\’re good at what they do, and they\’re right. The problem is that a lot of other boomer entrepreneurs are, too. Competence and even excellence are only one part of the successful entrepreneurial equation. In a crowded marketplace, how will you differentiate yourself? The short answer is positioning, which basically amounts to the perception you create among your prospects that you are the ultimate solution to their needs. You need to give as much thought and planning to how you will position yourself as you do to profit margins, as I can promise... Read More

Sitting in a waiting area above the tradeshow floor, I watched the forklift drivers deliver crates and boxes to small groups who were waiting to transform their rented cement floors into inviting marketing endeavors for the next day\’s expo opening, hosting seven thousand conference attendees. A microcosm of differing work styles, I found it fascinating to watch. In one area, a half-dozen people were standing around, leaning against the crates and talking, as one young woman went about unpacking the boxes and organizing the materials. Ah yes, I recognized those don\’t-exert-too-much-... Read More

If you build it, they will come…but you have to let them know it\’s there, provide directions, and give them an incentive to make the drive. No matter how fantastic your service, or phenomenal your product, you can\’t sell something to people who don\’t know it exists. Some fundamental Ps of Promotion include: Assess what\’s involved. There\’s an old adage that you “pay for advertising and pray for publicity.” While advertising is an important part of your promotional mix, so too are public relations, marketing materials, and community outreach. Think... Read More

You may have seen this headline or heard about it on the news: “Sex, Shopping and Gambling All in a Day\’s Work.” It was generated by an Interior Department report, citing compelling numbers from an investigation that discovered one million log entries involving 7700 employees visiting auction, gaming, gambling and sex sites on company time. The article finished with plans being implemented to curb offenses and punish violators. Employees whose behavior is the equivalent of stealing time, misusing company equipment and breaking trust with untrustworthy or unprofessional behaviors,... Read More