You may or may not have noticed that I have a site for women in business called WomenCorp. But I hope you'll take notice of this big news...
What I'm bursting at the seams about is that we just added a new woman automotive expert who has joined us with her "Ask Patty" column.
It's taken me a year to build the site because quality was paramount, but budget was reality. It's finally coming together and I'm so pleased that a woman of "Ask Patty" caliber agreed to be one of our experts. My goal has been to offer advice and training of real value to real women in business. And now we're doing it!
Why an automotive expert for women in business? (or any women for that matter)
You know how we women find it frustrating sometimes to talk to a guy about fixing our car? Especially when we're busy, successful, intelligent but they make us feel like we're nuts?
It's like with me...
when I go to tell the mechanic about a continuous problem that happens everytime I drive more than 60 miles, sure enough it doesn't do it when he's looking. And sometimes, he looks at me kind of funny like I don't know what I'm talking about.
I DO KNOW an engine light when I see it!
Well the truth is, it would be MUCH easier to communicate with a woman who's like me but happens to know something about cars. Not just advice about repairing cars, but buying cars. Not just buying cars, but maybe even showing me how to get into the auto industry and make some real money, too, if I'm looking at changing careers.
THAT is why I'm excited.
Real women with real expertise who can help other real women looking for advice.
That's what our new automotive expert is all about and I'm certainly pleased to have her on board WomenCorp.
If you haven't seen our new expert, ASK PATTY at WomenCorp, check it out right now. Trust me, you'll love her informative, interesting and down to earth advice for women.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
What's The Buzz About Women Business Owners?
Women in business have had to be a bit more persistant and willing to fight the battles to break down those barriers with people who perceive that men are more business-like.
BUT, business women are now starting to get recognition as serious contenders in the race for starting up businesses....and they are winning. More than half of new business is started by a woman business owner. I think I know why...
Business women are tired of having to be in charge at home and at work, while having no say in the hours they work. I believe more women in business are saying "hey, I can do this myself!"
Instead of working on someone else's schedule, women are deciding to work on their own schedule. I, for one, say "hooray!" It's time that corporations start allowing more flexibility in work schedules for business women or ... as one of my women executive friends said "they'll end up with only middle ages, mediocre, white males running the show. That's because talent is fleeing from the corporation anyway. Top that with talented women fleeing at twice the rate of talented men and you've got the makings of a company in trouble.
That's my take on the current situation with business women at least...what's yours?
BUT, business women are now starting to get recognition as serious contenders in the race for starting up businesses....and they are winning. More than half of new business is started by a woman business owner. I think I know why...
Business women are tired of having to be in charge at home and at work, while having no say in the hours they work. I believe more women in business are saying "hey, I can do this myself!"
Instead of working on someone else's schedule, women are deciding to work on their own schedule. I, for one, say "hooray!" It's time that corporations start allowing more flexibility in work schedules for business women or ... as one of my women executive friends said "they'll end up with only middle ages, mediocre, white males running the show. That's because talent is fleeing from the corporation anyway. Top that with talented women fleeing at twice the rate of talented men and you've got the makings of a company in trouble.
That's my take on the current situation with business women at least...what's yours?
Sunday, August 27, 2006
How Women In Business Pursue Lives of Passion and Purpose
It happened. You walked into work one day and said "what am I doing here"? You worked to achieve your goals as a woman in business and now you're burned out and bored to death...or just totally unhappy.
You're beginning to come to grips with the reality for many women in business. You're not having fun. In fact, it's pure drudgery. You've worked hard to get where you are as a business woman and yet it doesn't seem satisfying anymore.
It's a common problem many women in business have. We reach a certain age where we're tired of just working to get ahead and we want more purpose and passion in our lives.
If that decribes you, there is a way to change that picture. But you have to be willing to take action.
Most of us don't really know our purpose in life, but we want to find it.
The only way to find it is to experiment. Join a new organization. Join a church. Go to meetings that help you explore your spiritual gifts. OR...just go do something good for someone.
That's right. Volunteer!
We all have gifts and talents. The key is to marry your talent with something you enjoy doing with something you think is worthwhile...something that will make a difference in the world in some small way.
For example, if you are a marketing executive you know that you could help a non-profit raise funds because you have the talent. However, that may not be something that really gives you joy. It's what you do for a living, but it's not what gives you great happiness.
I believe to live a life of purpose and passion you must find the way to blend those gifts and talents with something that accomplishes a great purpose and gives you joy at the same time. After all, if it's not fun, you won't do it long.
My greatest joy comes from entertaining in my home. I love having people over and getting to know new people. So, I created my own version of a fundraiser that invited women to my home for dinner. I asked those women to invite business women friends. We all contributed food and drink and $25 toward a fundraiser and we all had a great time.
What was the fundraiser? To contribute money for working women who are too poor to raise the deposit money required to get into their own home.
It never occurred to me until I participated in "adopt a family" for Christmas that the greatest problem many working women who are poor have is they can't raise the funds to put down triple rent. If they have no credit or poor credit they are often required to put down a deposit, pay the last months rent plus current rent. For a $500 apartment that's $1500. How's a woman who makes $1000 a month going to do that? Then there is the phone, the power, the water, etc.
When I learned the problem, I was able to create a solution.
That's why I say...just start by volunteering. Take action and you'll find the problems you can help solve.
Then combine your gifts to create a solution that gives you joy, passion and purpose.
God bless. Have a great day.
If you want to get more information, articles or ideas for women in business go to WomenCorp.
You're beginning to come to grips with the reality for many women in business. You're not having fun. In fact, it's pure drudgery. You've worked hard to get where you are as a business woman and yet it doesn't seem satisfying anymore.
It's a common problem many women in business have. We reach a certain age where we're tired of just working to get ahead and we want more purpose and passion in our lives.
If that decribes you, there is a way to change that picture. But you have to be willing to take action.
Most of us don't really know our purpose in life, but we want to find it.
The only way to find it is to experiment. Join a new organization. Join a church. Go to meetings that help you explore your spiritual gifts. OR...just go do something good for someone.
That's right. Volunteer!
We all have gifts and talents. The key is to marry your talent with something you enjoy doing with something you think is worthwhile...something that will make a difference in the world in some small way.
For example, if you are a marketing executive you know that you could help a non-profit raise funds because you have the talent. However, that may not be something that really gives you joy. It's what you do for a living, but it's not what gives you great happiness.
I believe to live a life of purpose and passion you must find the way to blend those gifts and talents with something that accomplishes a great purpose and gives you joy at the same time. After all, if it's not fun, you won't do it long.
My greatest joy comes from entertaining in my home. I love having people over and getting to know new people. So, I created my own version of a fundraiser that invited women to my home for dinner. I asked those women to invite business women friends. We all contributed food and drink and $25 toward a fundraiser and we all had a great time.
What was the fundraiser? To contribute money for working women who are too poor to raise the deposit money required to get into their own home.
It never occurred to me until I participated in "adopt a family" for Christmas that the greatest problem many working women who are poor have is they can't raise the funds to put down triple rent. If they have no credit or poor credit they are often required to put down a deposit, pay the last months rent plus current rent. For a $500 apartment that's $1500. How's a woman who makes $1000 a month going to do that? Then there is the phone, the power, the water, etc.
When I learned the problem, I was able to create a solution.
That's why I say...just start by volunteering. Take action and you'll find the problems you can help solve.
Then combine your gifts to create a solution that gives you joy, passion and purpose.
God bless. Have a great day.
If you want to get more information, articles or ideas for women in business go to WomenCorp.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
How Woman Entrepreneurs Who Want More Get More
If you read the papers, magazines or any articles about corporate America, you'll notice a lot of companies are laying off employees. And I don't mean just those who were mediocre workers. Anybody could get the axe.
I know. Some of my best friends who were high powered corporate women eecutives have experienced layoff. It is the downsizing of corporate American. And business women are not just leaving, but they are getting ahead by starting their own business. After all, why not? In this internet age, small women entrepreneurs can compete very successfully with the big guys.
But what is the real effect for business women? Is it dismal, lean times? Or...do they take the opportunity to re-evaluate their lives and create a whole new opportunity to follow their dreams.
Last year I met a guy who's new wife of 4 months quit her $200k a year job because they got married and she didn't want to travel anymore. So, she got with it and started her own homebased business, in the basement.
How many business women do you know that transitioned from corporate America to making $1.2 million in her first year? That's what happened to this guy's wife. She started with something she knew...buying wedding favors online, and started her own company to sell them. Now she's one of the biggest online vendors.
It could happen to you too.
But first, you have to have the desire to leap. Then you have to have the willingness to sit down and figure out what you really enjoy and plan exactly how you're going to make money.
This business woman took it further. She also hired an SEO expert (search engine optimization) to help her with the website. She also had overhead that could expand and contract with her business, rather than having a lot of fixed cost. For example, hiring virtual assistants means you only pay when you need them.
She delegated much of the work and concentrated on the part that she did best. Result, her first year she brought in $1.2 million. Second year looks something like $7 million. Just think where she'd be if she hadn't taken that leap.
If you're considering leaving the corporate world and starting your own, you might want to visit How To Get Business and learn more about how to grow your business.
I know. Some of my best friends who were high powered corporate women eecutives have experienced layoff. It is the downsizing of corporate American. And business women are not just leaving, but they are getting ahead by starting their own business. After all, why not? In this internet age, small women entrepreneurs can compete very successfully with the big guys.
But what is the real effect for business women? Is it dismal, lean times? Or...do they take the opportunity to re-evaluate their lives and create a whole new opportunity to follow their dreams.
Last year I met a guy who's new wife of 4 months quit her $200k a year job because they got married and she didn't want to travel anymore. So, she got with it and started her own homebased business, in the basement.
How many business women do you know that transitioned from corporate America to making $1.2 million in her first year? That's what happened to this guy's wife. She started with something she knew...buying wedding favors online, and started her own company to sell them. Now she's one of the biggest online vendors.
It could happen to you too.
But first, you have to have the desire to leap. Then you have to have the willingness to sit down and figure out what you really enjoy and plan exactly how you're going to make money.
This business woman took it further. She also hired an SEO expert (search engine optimization) to help her with the website. She also had overhead that could expand and contract with her business, rather than having a lot of fixed cost. For example, hiring virtual assistants means you only pay when you need them.
She delegated much of the work and concentrated on the part that she did best. Result, her first year she brought in $1.2 million. Second year looks something like $7 million. Just think where she'd be if she hadn't taken that leap.
If you're considering leaving the corporate world and starting your own, you might want to visit How To Get Business and learn more about how to grow your business.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Wolf Whistles and The Woman In Business
Are women in business still feeling harrassed in the workplace? Is harrassment in the workplace the same as a guy who whistles at you on the street?
Today I actually got whistled at while walking down the street. It made me start thinking about whether I considered it harrassment or just plain funny.
Use to be I was flustered when a trucker or construction worker showed this kind of attention. Today, I had an interesting combination of feelings.
1. I'm 51 and still getting whistled at...hehe.
2. Yuck!
Does that prove I've gone soft after 26 years as a business woman? I don't think so but it does proven one thing. I've toughened up. When I was 25 I didn't like it a bit. Today I didn't care.
After years of experience as a woman in business I've dealt with harrassment in different forms. It was unwarrented, unwanted and unworthy of my attention, but it still felt embarassing and I would carry it with me all day.
Now I can laugh. Is that because I've become a tough, hardened woman in business or is it because I don't let things like that bother me anymore?
This made me curious. After we're exposed to all forms of harrassment for years in a row do we become immune or does it have something to do with confidence and self esteem?
What do you think? If you've got a second, please answer my anonymous survey. I'll publish the results at a later date. Thanks for your participation in advance.
Today I actually got whistled at while walking down the street. It made me start thinking about whether I considered it harrassment or just plain funny.
Use to be I was flustered when a trucker or construction worker showed this kind of attention. Today, I had an interesting combination of feelings.
1. I'm 51 and still getting whistled at...hehe.
2. Yuck!
Does that prove I've gone soft after 26 years as a business woman? I don't think so but it does proven one thing. I've toughened up. When I was 25 I didn't like it a bit. Today I didn't care.
After years of experience as a woman in business I've dealt with harrassment in different forms. It was unwarrented, unwanted and unworthy of my attention, but it still felt embarassing and I would carry it with me all day.
Now I can laugh. Is that because I've become a tough, hardened woman in business or is it because I don't let things like that bother me anymore?
This made me curious. After we're exposed to all forms of harrassment for years in a row do we become immune or does it have something to do with confidence and self esteem?
What do you think? If you've got a second, please answer my anonymous survey. I'll publish the results at a later date. Thanks for your participation in advance.
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