As women professionals and business owners, every one of us should be working with a business plan. To me, this is a workable, upgradeable document that explains in some detail your plans to develop a financially successful business. This is important for two reasons: 1. Preparing a business plan forces you to think through every aspect of your business. If you need outside money, your business plan will be one of the first things the lender or investor will want to see. 2. A business plan helps serve as your road map and assessment tool. A good business plan contains an executive summary. This... Read More

Senator John Kerry said his remark, “If you don\’t study hard you get stuck in Iraq,” was a joke gone awry. President George W. Bush was critical, commenting to the Associated Press that “it didn\’t sound like a joke to me. More important, it didn\’t sound like a joke to the troops.” What did you think? With the election right around the corner, the political stakes are high. Some bloggers and journalists in the Conservative camp are focused on Senator John Kerry\’s “campaign gaffe.” Others on the Democratic team view this fixation as... Read More

Is caregiving a rewarding career? Yes, I have a creative personality and passion to find solutions. Working for others did not provide that freedom, which was a trade-off for security. Eight years ago I started my own business helping seniors to downsize their home, pack and unpack for relocation, and organize the home for ease of movement. This process is more than just packing and unpacking. Now the family can learn how to properly do these tasks for themselves by hiring me for coaching sessions over the telephone. As time went on, I created friendships with other senior care providers. It... Read More

Both men and women are short changed when sweeping generalizations are applied to the male psyche. Men can not all be painted with broad strokes. Some comments from a poll we took may help build a more complex picture of the midlife male perspective, particularly concerning long-term relationships. Often it\’s a struggle for marital partners to maintain commitment to each other. However, many men recognize that the outcome is worth the effort. Henry talked about his secret to success. “We\’ve never lost our focus – we knew we had to work to stay together. It was the two of us... Read More

Senator John Kerry said his remark, “If you don\’t study hard you get stuck in Iraq,” was a joke gone awry. President George W. Bush was critical, commenting to the Associated Press that “it didn\’t sound like a joke to me. More important, it didn\’t sound like a joke to the troops.” What did you think? With the election right around the corner, the political stakes are high. Some bloggers and journalists in the Conservative camp are focused on Senator John Kerry\’s “campaign gaffe.” Others on the Democratic team view this fixation as... Read More

“The job is easy. It\’s the people that are difficult!” How many times have we said that? During my years as an administrator in nonprofit organizations, I saw a variety of behaviors that did not promote professionalism. The following are my observations: Managers do not cry. They negotiate. Kelly was a well-respected leader in her field. She had been in middle management and came to our organization, not understanding the amount of clerical work involved in her position. Probably out of frustration, she was frequently reduced to tears. Kelly was the coordinator of our annual three-day... Read More

As your kidults begin to pack up for college, does the thought of creating a more grown-up nest sound good? Can you visualize more simplicity and less chaos? Think about what it would be like to clean out the drawers, give away the memorabilia your kids don\’t want, get rid of all the stuff they\’re outgrown and make your home yours again. If you decide to make a change, it will be an ongoing process filled with both positive and negative emotions. This transition signifies the end of an important chapter in your life – the house full of family and activity, of growing children... Read More

Both men and women are short changed when sweeping generalizations are applied to the male psyche. Men can not all be painted with broad strokes. Some comments from a poll we took may help build a more complex picture of the midlife male perspective, particularly concerning long-term relationships. Often it\’s a struggle for marital partners to maintain commitment to each other. However, many men recognize that the outcome is worth the effort. Henry talked about his secret to success. “We\’ve never lost our focus – we knew we had to work to stay together. It was the two of us... Read More

Senator John Kerry said his remark, “If you don\’t study hard you get stuck in Iraq,” was a joke gone awry. President George W. Bush was critical, commenting to the Associated Press that “it didn\’t sound like a joke to me. More important, it didn\’t sound like a joke to the troops.” What did you think? With the election right around the corner, the political stakes are high. Some bloggers and journalists in the Conservative camp are focused on Senator John Kerry\’s “campaign gaffe.” Others on the Democratic team view this fixation as... Read More

Both men and women are short changed when sweeping generalizations are applied to the male psyche. Men can not all be painted with broad strokes. Some comments from a poll we took may help build a more complex picture of the midlife male perspective, particularly concerning long-term relationships. Often it\’s a struggle for marital partners to maintain commitment to each other. However, many men recognize that the outcome is worth the effort. Henry talked about his secret to success. “We\’ve never lost our focus – we knew we had to work to stay together. It was the two of us... Read More