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!

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.

There are two exciting events taking place in March that focus on women. First, March is National Women’s History Month, and second, the International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8^th. Continue Reading »

Submitting articles to professional article-posting sites can promote and benefit your business, so it’s wise to become an expert at article writing.  The process can also be interesting, educational and fun, and it can take your business to new levels of involvement and success. Continue Reading »

We are well into the first few months of the year. How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? Hopefully they are not fading away and your well-intentioned efforts have been successful. Experts say that the reason most resolutions fail is because they involve constant commitment and effort. They may also be unrealistic in nature, leading people to give up altogether. From a business standpoint, resolutions are equally as important as personal ones. The current economic situation calls for sustained programs and goals that yield positive results. Now is not the time to give up but to instead create long-term projects. A good plan will include tactics, goals and budgets that are easy to adhere to. People are jumping on the social media bandwagon by putting all kinds of information on Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, and others. While this is important do not sit back and think that because your firm may be “out there” that the sales are going to roll in. I am a fan of the internet and all of the new technology for communicating. Just don’t rely on one information source…try all kinds, tried and untried. Ideas are a good thing but you have to make them happen. Stay focused and be aggressive in both your personal and professional pursuits. Good luck!

When in the start-up stages of developing a new woman-owned business, you often discover that the most important first decision is what type of business is best for you and your particular products or services. For, nearly all of your business ideas, planning, organizing and strategies are directly related to the overall organizational design you choose. Certain kinds of business ventures are better suited to a specific type of business structure, and one of the major deciding factors you’ll want to consider is the initial size of your enterprise.

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President-Elect Obama’s Transition Team has asked Congress to delay the February 17, 2009 switch to digital signals for television broadcasts, which was originally mandated to create more space in the wireless spectrum. This action taken by the Obama Transition team was necessary after the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration reached its maximum of the allocated $1.34 billion in funding to cover the cost of converter box coupons for U.S. households. The NTIA has its hands tied because it cannot allocate more than the amount of funding mandated under the rules set by Congress. So it is clear the proposed switch from analog to digital in a few weeks is about to create a problem unless it is delayed until the issue of more funding and education can be addressed.

According to an Associated Press article posted on 1/6/2009, there is a waiting list for 103, 000 coupons already since the NTIA ran out of money. And AP writer Joelle Tessler on 1/10/2009 summarized the impact by explaining that “. . . in less than six weeks, the nation’s television broadcasters are due to shut off their analog signals and begin transmitting in digital – potentially blacking out as many as 8 million U.S. households . . .”

And that doesn’t seem to be the only problem associated with transmission. The Federal Communications Commission has even said there will be a percentage of full-power TV stations with a digital signal that still will not reach a small percentage of its customers currently using the analog signal.

The potential digital divide this switch from analog to digital is causing should have been anticipated on the front end. While I’m sure there were assessments and strategic planning done, it appears that many people only knew a proposed date of February 17, 2009 for the switch over. There were no town hall meetings and public input before these decisions were made. Perhaps public input could make this transition much smoother. No one will argue against a clearer signal, and I’m sure many will still stand up for public access to televisions signals. Many of us have cable or satellite transmission. But remember there is still poverty in America, and many people cannot afford a digital television set, cable or satellite transmission. These are the people who will be affected by this change, and let’s not forget those who have become unemployed. There is also the elderly population, mothers, and grandparents, who may need to be educated on the switch to digital television and the use of the converter boxes.

There is one thing for sure. As we engage in all the history unfolding in front of our eyes, no one should be without connectivity and unable to observe, experience, and be a part of a global society. The digital divide is determined by how many people have access to technology. We risk widening the gap if we don’t provide people access to digital technology. The switch to digital is supposed to be value added, not value subtracted. Television is more than entertainment. It educates and is our viewfinder to the world.

Have you seen those ads claiming that the life of an entrepreneur is as free as a bird at the beach? They tend to be filled with enticing stories of exotic lifestyles of travel and adventure in far away, stylish, yet secluded locations. Well, this scenario is at least somewhat possible, provided your business venture doesn’t require close supervision of a product or service focused mainly in one place—and provided that secretive, secluded spot has reliable Internet and cell phone access. In reality, the birds seem to be in the lead. After all, they have 24/7 free airborne transport, and they don’t need cable, DSL, wireless service or satellite to communicate.

You can, however, gain much freedom from old routines (like the 9 to 5 work week) and confining work schedules, locations and enforced habits by starting your own home based, entrepreneurial business. As a business owner, you can choose your own hours, limits, work space and priorities. Some people decide to start a business venture nearby home, providing a product or service to the local community. If, in fact, your aim is to run your business from wherever you are while you travel and explore new territories, make new friends, and learn more about the world, an Internet and mobile or cell phone based business is most definitely a good way to go.

Although you can create a Website or Web store to sell any product or line of service you like—books, CDs, DVDs, computer software, electronic equipment; or, provider services such as writing and editing, graphic design, fashion consulting or creating custom jewelry—one of the simplest and best suited business ventures for restless folks who don’t like to stay at home is some type of Internet marketing business. With your laptop computer and cell phone, you’re ready to operate from just about anywhere wireless technology has arrived.

One good choice is to purchase an Internet based marketing franchise, and one of the most lucrative and popular kinds is that of marketing educational products—for both formal academic education and popular ed (e.g., self development and mastery software packages). Finance and language studies are also popular subjects to promote and sell. And, when you think about it, the initial purchase and start-up cost to you is amazingly reasonable. After all, where else can you obtain a business franchise for $1,000 to $1,500 with no rent, extra equipment or overhead costs required?

Of course, there are some obstacles and problems to overcome. For starters, it is difficult for one person to fill the roles of business president, chairperson, CEO, administrative coordinator, secretary and mail clerk, all at the same time. On some hectic days, you may feel like multiple personalities—and you may need to be to survive the pace. Then, there is the dilemma of how to divide your time and attention among your overall business plan and strategy, work organization and flow, daily administration and output, financial structure and budget, and social events and networking. All are equally important, but you, as boss, make the decisions of who, what, when and wherefore; and remember, you’re playing all the parts in this daily drama.

You’ll discover it’s also important to know when to turn to other business people for professional advice, assistance and expertise. No one person can ever have all the best answers, but many people have some excellent ones learned from direct experience and creative, but sensible, experimentation and repetition. It’s often helpful to share ideas and sometimes “merge” them, to reach good solutions to the most perplexing questions and issues.

We’ll probably all agree that while it’s important to create and build a strong, substantial and profitable business that you can manage, it’s equally important not to let the business overtake you and completely monopolize you, your time and your talents. It’s important to “Live With Your BIZ,” but also take breaks from it. So, plan quality leisure time for yourself and with family and friends, and keep the dates. Remember, running your own show can be both taxing and relaxing, but you’re the mastermind—so be sure to master the BIZ, don’t let it master you.

And before long, you just may find that your lifestyle is a lot closer to those free birds at the beach than you ever dreamed possible.

Copyright 2008 – Ellen Gilmer

If you haven’t heard of personal branding and its importance in today’s marketplace, you need to start here. If you have heard of it, but don’t think it applies to you, then start here.

Now that we are all on the same page, let’s discuss what personal branding can do for your career or business. Personal branding, like corporate branding, is based on how others percieve you. It is the idea of how all of your “marketing messages” work together to create an impression of you. These messages can be delivered intentionally (resumes, personal website, business cards, etc.) or unintentionally (blog posts, email messages, voice mail greetings, etc.). Think of a typical work day…how many impressions is your brand making? Probably a lot more than you realize.

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It’s no secret that times are tough financially for everyone right now, the world over. Companies are cutting back, jobs are being lost, and stock prices are falling. So how do you stay motivated and on track with your career or business when it feels like the world is against you?  Continue Reading »