Technology continues to evolve and the hardware architectural devices, techno-gadgets,  and toys continue to multiply.  After all, we are living in the 21^st Century.  The technology is smart and we are enjoying the benefits that the applications technology delivers.  In a sense, we and technology are growing up together and learning each and everyday the implications and the effects of these new technologies that are created, mass produced, and distributed to society.

The world has had a glimpse of technology working at its best especially in the wake of disaster.  After the devastation of the Haiti earthquake, for instance, we witnessed the sorrow and pain of a country already suffering from poverty and seeing this reality and strength of the people there touched the world.  And thanks to the technological developments of mobile phones and the Internet, people’s lives were saved and love ones were re-connected.  It was amazing and miraculous to see the role technology played in the midst of this disaster.  There were so many trapped people who were able to calm the fears of their loved ones through cell phones, text messages on social networking sites.  While television provided an inside look at the impact of the earthquake, social networking sites were utilized to post messages and photos of missing love ones.  People were able to communicate they were still alive.  Yes, smart technology can be a shining star in the wake of disaster.

Since that time, technology continues its evolution.  The iPad was recently released with all of its bell and whistles.  The iPhone, blackberry, and net books are smarter, faster, and provide many benefits with their applications.  People are engaging in social networking on a global scale and its impact is still being examined.  Last year, I posted a blog on Women that Network entitled “Social Networking: A Garden of Eden.”  Today, the Garden of Eden theory is holding true as we experience the good and the bad side of technology, or as some may say, the “ying and the yang.”  For all the good technology is bringing into our lives, it has brought significant challenges.  Facebook, MySpace, texting etc. are wonderful tools of communication; however, they leave a trail of information.  They are great tools for surveillance.  As one law enforcement officer stated, “Technology has become a great tool for law enforcement.”  There are many crimes and schemes conducted through the internet including sexual predators, pornography, and recruitment for terrorism, to name a few.  And not to mention elementary and middle school children “sexting” (sending nude photos) through their cell phones.  People’s houses are also being robbed as a result of their “tweets” letting criminals know they’re not at home; some are being denied jobs and fired due to their posting graphic content on social networking sites; others are being killed due to texting while driving.

Just because we have all of these smart technologies at our disposal, we have to apply “common sense” and understand the concept of “people trails.”  Yes, technology will continue to evolve and bring added value, but it can also subtract things from our lives if we do not become smart in our actions.  Nonetheless, we can be assured that technology will continue to be center stage in our lives.  It is the way of the world.  And while there are many challenges associated with the use and applications of technology for good or for bad, it is here to stay.  Be aware, “We the People are providing the content; We the People are compromising our privacy; and We the People need to become smart.  Don’t let technology control your senses.

March is Women’s History Month in the USA. On a broader scale, March 8 is International Women’s Day, with over 573 events around the world. The Day is a major one of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Instead of one global theme each year, it is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select. To check out your country’s events and the various themes, go to internationalwomensday.com. Join in the celebration, even if from your computer! There is a vast amount of information on this website including jobs, health, business and finance and more. Most importantly, give yourself a pat on the back this month for all that you have achieved!

A friend of mine once told me about a quotation made by the author, Stephen King, in his book, On Writing, in which he states “…to write is human, to edit is divine.” I found this quotation most fascinating and quite honestly, I was more than a little surprised to think that anyone would consider editing as being divine. After thinking about this quotation for some time, I realized that there are many who write—they put their thoughts on paper, communicate with others and some writers may not be concerned with how to spell, punctuate or to use grammar properly. They can be more interested in getting their thoughts communicated—to be creative in whatever they are writing—to cause the reader to visualize a scene or story in their mind’s eye. However, editors can focus too entirely on the rules and can end up sanitizing writing to the point where the writer’s voice may disappear. Perhaps this is what Stephen King meant when he said “…to edit is divine.” As the editor-in-chief for the American Biographical Institute, I make every effort to keep the writer’s voice intact and to make minimal changes to an entry or text while adhering to the rules of grammar.

Recently, while watching a reality show on television about fashion design, I heard the designers’ mentor say to them regarding the designs they were creating “…remember designers, edit, edit, edit.” I thought this was a fascinating way to tell them that their designs should be looked at many times and possibly edited or revised to make them more precise and more accurate for the project. I had never thought of editing being applicable to the world of fashion design but there it was mentioned over and over again by a very popular designer/mentor. This proved to me that editing not only applies to the written word but can also apply to other aspects of our lives. There is a need to review and edit whatever we are undertaking to make sure it is accurate or more precise, while still allowing for creativity to shine through.

At A.B.I., I oversee the creation of a person’s biography for inclusion in our directories. It is important to provide each person with a biography that reflects the important aspects of their lives and their achievements. I take my editing role quite seriously and make every effort to incorporate not only proper grammar, spelling and punctuation, but also creativity and an accurate reflection of the author’s life.

Recently I attended a professional seminar that featured many wonderful speakers. The topics were invigorating and inspiring and I was absolutely honored to be in attendance. However, at the start of a fresh lecture, just as I found comfort in my plushy seat, I gradually began to feel—distracted. It was a bit difficult not to feel this way, given the peppering of white electronic auras throughout the vast auditorium. I was appalled.

A suited gentleman seated just one row in front of me boldly cracked open his laptop, click-clacking an email back to headquarters. A woman two seats to my immediate left chuckled at her Blackberry as it whispered one-liners to her. A man to my right kept flapping his cell phone open then shut, open then shut, partly in fidgety play and partly to impatiently check the time on its digital face. As all of this occurred, I felt my focus pan out and analyze not the speaker’s words, but the actions of the other “professionals” in my company. I was embarrassed for each and every one of them, but I bet you that they were so self-unaware that they did not even notice my stares that spoke volumes to their deaf eyes.

If I was so distracted from my little seat amongst hundreds, I can only imagine how distracted and discouraged the speaker was— perched up on the stage, watching rude audience members deliberately and so obviously zone her out. Honestly, if I were in her position, I would have addressed each and every one of the perpetrators via the microphone, exiling them from their velvety seats so that they could take care of their oh-so-important, better-than-thou business elsewhere. Have we all forgotten some very elementary rules in manners? Or does technology rewrite the rules?

My point is simple. In this electronic age we feel the need to be plugged in almost constantly, but we must always remember that there is an off button. There are reasons why we are asked to turn our devices off before entering theatres and auditoriums. Just because you are on “vibrate” or “silent” mode does not mean that you are invisible to others around you, including those on stage. So, please power off!

Recently, I was an invited to attend the eighth annual General Hugh Shelton Leadership Forum, offered through the General Shelton Leadership Center at North Carolina State University. The annual seminar series focuses on the importance of leadership development and brings together great leaders from the arenas of academia, civil service, the military, and the corporate world. The forum’s mission is “to inspire, educate and develop values-based leaders committed to personal integrity, professional ethics, and selfless service.” In attending this year’s forum, I truly was inspired and learned so much. This year’s focus was “Leadership, Ethics and Accountability,” and the day was overflowing with great discussion and collaborative thinking. The concepts fostered within these seminars can be applied to any industry, by any employee, by any employer. Since my attendance, I have further internalized these concepts and hope that you will too!

John Allison, chairman of BB&T Corporation and featured speaker, addressed how the lack of ethical leadership is related to problems we are globally encountering today. He shared principles that helped BB&T survive and thrive that can be ushered in to all industries to generate success. He explained that there must be purpose in the work we do—by helping clients achieve success and security, by making the world a better place through our products and services, and by making use of our own lives by doing what we want to do for ourselves. Our values, he explained, enable us to achieve our purpose and mission, defining values as practical habits enabling us as individuals to live, be successful, and achieve happiness. The following ten principles, he explained, must be implemented to ensure that values are upheld and success is achieved:

• Reality: In order to be better, we must understand what the facts are. If we are out of focus with reality, nothing can be achieved. Wishing for something does not make it so. Reality is fact-based and must be preserved in order to obtain and hold authority and ultimately accomplish our goals.
• Reason: Survival is dependent upon the ability to reason logically from the facts of reality. Sound premises, induction, deduction, and integration are all tool of clear reasoning. All concepts within any organization should be logical and fact-based, and all should be able to be traced back to reality. Good teachers develop concepts to be better decision makers and all experimental learners make mistakes and learn from them.
• Independent Thinking: All employees should be challenged to optimally use their individual minds in order to make rational decisions. In this context, we are each responsible for what we do and who we are. Creativity should be strongly encouraged and can only be possible with independent thought.
• Productivity: There should be commitment to the objective and a strong work ethic in order to reach a goal.
• Honesty: Being honest is simply being consistent with reality. To be dishonest is to conflict with reality and is ultimately self-defeating. Keep agreements and mean what you say and know what you mean.
• Integrity: Because we have developed principles logically based on reality, we should always act consistently with our principles.
• Justice: Justice is a sense of fairness. Individuals should be evaluated and rewarded objectively based on their contribution to accomplishing the mission and their adherence to the set of values. Those who contribute most should receive most.
• Pride: Pride is the psychological reward we earn from living with values, being just, having integrity, etc. Pride and a strong work ethic go hand in hand and both feed productivity.
• Self-Esteem: Positive self-esteem should be earned from doing work well. Strong self-esteem enables us to accomplish goals within the context of our mission and, again, feeds productivity and a strong work ethic.
• Teamwork: Teamwork is a mutual supportiveness that allows work to be accomplished. Each individual must consistently act to achieve team objectives with respect.

Each of these ingredients to organizational and individual success was reiterated again and again throughout the forum. Sherron Watkins, former Vice President and whistleblower of Enron Corporation, referred back to these concepts when reflecting on how the lack of ethics and accountability formed the ultimate demise of Enron. James E. Coleman, Jr., Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law, dissected the pitfalls of the Duke Lacrosse case. He shared his perspective on how the role of leadership should address ethics and accountability with public service and how responsible citizenship within local communities will assist to direct out society toward community accountability. Several leaders featured in Secrets of Success: North Carolina Values-Based Leadership, a unique coffee-table book that the General H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Center published through Ivy House Publishing Group earlier this year, discussed their personal experiences and what made them successful leaders. Again and again, these key concepts were driven home with enthusiasm. The lesson to do what is just and right, even if it is not a popular thing to do, was certainly a strong motif of the day.

Overall, the 2009 General Hugh Shelton Leadership Forum was an educational and motivating event that made me reflect on my purpose as a leader, as a mentor, as an employee, and as a citizen to my community and world. It was an honor to be invited to such an inspirational gathering of great minds. For more information on this outstanding event and the General H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Center, please visit http://www.ncsu.edu/extension/sheltonleadership.

For the past few months I have had an increased sense of fulfillment. My work at Ivy House has always left me with that positive feeling of satisfaction. It’s easy to gain that sensation when your career helps others achieve their dreams. I can’t explain the sense of joy I feel when I see an author’s face light up at the first glimpse of their new book. Or when I get enthusiastic phone calls from authors announcing achievements, whether they win a national book award, or see their name mentioned in a newspaper or review publication. My role as publishing coordinator is always a fulfilling one, but lately it’s been amplified. The reason? I have taken the same kind of guidance I give to Ivy House authors and ushered it in new directions. I have become a mentor.

A young and vibrant high school girl approached me several months ago, asking if I could help her in completing a graduation project. She had to choose a mentor to educate her in the ins and outs of the field she was most interested in. In her case, this young, budding writer was thirsty to learn about every facet of the publishing industry—how to choose a publisher, how to submit a manuscript, what is looked for in the evaluation process, how a book is edited, how to market a book, the list goes on. I was more than happy to help this student check the project off her graduation to-do list, but didn’t expect to gain what I did in our meetings.

In our conversations we covered a lot of ground, laughing along the way as we got to know each other. We would volley questions and answers back and forth and, in doing so, I soon realized that I was also learning something. Mentoring was a new way of testing my knowledge about my field. Sometimes I didn’t have an answer, so I would look it up for both of us. After months of meetings, phone calls, and emails back and forth, I also realized that I gained a friend. Last week I got a brief email that informed me that she had enrolled in a writing class this semester because I had inspired her to take classes that could help her develop as a writer. I once explained that taking classes that dealt with her career interest, as opposed to something un-enriching like study hall, could make her a more attractive college applicant. I certainly didn’t realize that I had such an impact on her (and she certainly doesn’t realize how this mentoring experience has impacted me).

If you ever get the opportunity to reach out, take that opportunity and run with it. My mentoring didn’t stop with the completion of this student’s project. I have been here to offer guidance in the college application process—something I wish I had a mentor for when I was an overwhelmed high school senior. Not only have I served as a general sounding board, but as a literary critic as well. Currently, I’m helping her develop her first young adult novella.

January marks National Mentoring Month. Start 2010 on a positive note and research mentoring opportunities in your area and/or respective field. Visit www.nationalmentoringmonth.org to learn more about the power of mentoring.

Paper was first used by the ancient Egyptians around 3,500 B.C., in the form of papyrus fibers (thus, from whence the word “paper” is derived).  But with the advances in technology that digitize and optimize the exchange and storage of information, should paper be put on the Endangered List? 

With the instant, free accessibility of news content on the Internet, we’re watching our print newspapers and magazines fall into decline.  In the book industry, we see e-books and digital e-readers, like the Amazon Kindle, starting to make a dent in the printed book market.  Authors have even started autographing Kindles instead of books!  With the rising usage of broadband internet access and facsimile transmittals of information, the United States Postal Service has less and less mail to process.  Some are even predicting that the postal service may altogether cease to exist within the next few years. Continue Reading »

Information gathering these days is in real time as opposed to the old days of waiting for information to flow through a gatekeeper such as a reporter, editor, producer, public relations practitioner, or a supervisor, etc. who decides how that message will be packaged for human consumption. In fact, society no longer has to wait for information. It can be consumed at the blink of an eye and it’s available right at your fingertips on the internet. People can connect and engage in interconnectivity in ways that were never imagined a short while ago. Technology has certainly taken its place at the center of our daily engagement. Continue Reading »

Remember the days when there was no email?  Today, it’s hard for most to picture life without it, but the truth is, email hasn’t been around all that long.  However, the effect email has had on the way we communicate with each other has been profound.  Through its convenience of transmitting vital information quickly and efficiently, email has undoubtedly brought our world closer together.  But is it possible to misuse or over rely on email as a communication tool?  I think so.  And therefore, I think it’s worth revisiting the basic rules from time to time.  Here are some of my tips and hints for using email to its full advantage:

1) Say exactly what you mean.  Unlike in conversation, there are no visual or aural clues (like body language, eye contact, tone of voice, etc.) to hint to the other person what the subtext of your words might mean.  Continue Reading »