The Downtown Women's Club womensDISH blog

Make July 4th Your Innovation Day

What better day to talk about innovation than the few days leading up to July 4th.  Think back to the situation the Founding Fathers faced.  "Yay!  We have our independence!  OK, now what ... oh yeah, we have to create an entirely new economic model from scratch."  They had to throw out traditional trade relationships and business practices and start over.  Yikes.  But, the key thing is they did it.  It wasn't easy.  Change and innovation never is. 

As a result of the current economy and the changes brought on by technology, many companies and individuals are facing their own daunting business scenarios.  The question we have to ask ourselves, do we want to be "Americans" (i.e. the Innovators) or the "British" (i.e. trying to maintain the status quo).

Now, there is a good reason to maintain some parts of the status quo.  In fact, in times of great upheaval, it's good to get back to basics.  And, there are some tried and true ways of doing business that should never be abandoned:  Building relationships, keeping your word, underpromising and overdelivering etc.  But, you also need to layer in something new. 

If things have been slow at your company, this summer is the perfect time to step back and "think outside the box." Or as some people say "just think" (because isn't that what thinking outside the box is?)

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We did some thinking leading up to this summer at the Downtown Women's Club and and realized that we had to stop thinking of ourselves as just a networking platform.  Instead we need to provide our members with more meaningful content and resources.  This is why we will be phasing out/revamping some of our less successful programs and introducing two new programs:

1.  Our new eBook series.  We'll be rolling out eBooks based on our popular DWC+ Teleclass series exclusively for our DWC+ members.   We just released the first one this week:  The Downtown Women's Club Beginner's Guide to Facebook.  This 57-page eBook is available FREE for DWC+ Members. Non-DWC+ members can click here or the box at right to find out more.  If you are a DWC+ member, you should have received a copy in your latest Network Now! newsletter, or you can check the member center starting next week.

2. Our DWC Brand Ambassadors affiliate program.  We'll have more about this next month, but we realize that we have such amazing members who have been helping us spread the word and now they will be able to benefit from it.  We also are hoping to partner with non-profits and business allies where they can earn revenue and donations from selling DWC+ Memberships.

Why are we moving in this new direction?  Because technology and the state of the economy caused us to revisit our business model and we realized that we needed to evolve from being simply a networking group to providing meaningful content and revenue-sharing opportunities.

We're not the only ones who are adjusting to the new playing field.  Check out this terrific article from the New York times featuring one of our long-time advisors and friend of the DWC:  Paige Arnof-Fenn.

Filling the Downtime with No Downsizing.

Have a great 4th everyone!  Go out and celebrate and start thinking about how you and your company might innovate!

DWC Guest Post: Five Biz Tips Flushed Straight from the Poker Table

Here at the Downtown Women's Club's Women's Dish blog we've been following the adventures of Annie Duke, the poker player who should have won Celebrity Apprentice.  So, when Tiffany Michelle, another female professional poker player submitted this article about what you can learn from the poker table, we thought we would share it.  And perhaps we might buff up on our poker playing skills this summer. 

Five Biz Tips Flushed Straight from the Poker Table
By Tiffany Michelle

My job definitely isn't considered the typical 9-5. Most ladies sit behind a  desk, clicking and clacking away at a keyboard while I put in my office hours by sitting at a poker table, shuffling poker chips. Our job descriptions may be different but as one of few professional poker-playing females I can identify with strong, successful women who are working in a man's world. Although, let me be honest, my peers play a card game for a living so "boys" world is probably more accurate.

RAISE YOUR HEALTH

I may not have a desk job but I can relate to sitting on my bum for hours and hours at the poker table. Having a background in massage therapy I'm very aware of my body. Be good to your back, hips, neck and arms with exercise, massage, chiropractic care, diet and office furniture that promotes good posture. When your body is happy your brain will function better.

NEVER FOLD TO THE PRESSURE

As a strong, confident, aggressive female I've come under a lot of scrutiny and criticism. I've had my accomplishments diminished, my personal character attacked and the trivial things I've said and done magnified. I think we've all had moments when adversities pile up and we just want to disappear. Alas, I have yet to find that "ESCAPE" button so I've learned to take the bad with the good and appreciate what challenges birth within me.  Reward and success taste that much sweeter when you've had to overcome
hurdles to achieve it.

CALL FOR PATIENCE

Patience... Ick. I like to take charge and make things happen! For me playing a game where I have to wait for the right cards or opportunity to present itself can be excruciating. Nonetheless, in poker the most important thing is patience. There have been countless times when I've eliminated myself from a tournament simply because I acted hastily.  Whatever your job, whatever your dilemma, be patient and in time you'll be dealt the right hand.

PLAY TO WIN

It's easy to make silly mistakes when I get lazy and discouraged at the poker tables, hand after hand, game after game. Recently I decided to get back on track. I put my mind to winning everything I entered and my results over the next month were amazing.  With determination and diligence I played my best game every time. There is no excuse for slacking off. Resist the urge to go on autopilot and play to win every time you go to work.

DON'T BLUFF YOURSELF

In the workplace, much like in the poker industry there is a lot of attention placed on the men verses women. I'm often asked what it's like to be a female in a male dominated field and what tips I can offer women when competing against men. But I've discovered that your toughest competition is sexless, it's neither man nor woman... it's yourself! We get in our own way all the time and talk ourselves out of taking risks and being awesome. It sounds cliché, but whatever your game, whomever your competition: believe in yourself, be confident, face your fears, and rise to the challenge. You'll be amazed what you can obtain. Doubt and fear will cripple you but confidence will carry you far.

Tiffany Michelle is a TV Personality/Actress, Singer/Songwriter, Professional Poker Player.  Click here for More about Tiffany Michelle

Speaking of poker, here's a little fiction gem I remember being pretty good summer reading a few years ago. - Diane K. Danielson, CEO, www.DowntownWomensClub.com.

Self Value - Empower it.

Experience and Education is not just for the prospective employer to evaluate - its something for you to consider as you review your own value and consider what to do with it.

My son started his first job yesterday. I did my best to hold in the excitement and fear and awe I was experiencing, and just kept it to sound and reasonable advice – and a “just the facts Ma’am” tone. I mean, consider the alternative...me whipping out the camera and taking a photo of him with his new boss...it ran through my brain I assure you.

Walking him through the whole application process, interview tips and advice, what to wear, say, do...I thought back to my first job, the horrid uniform, the awkwardness of learning new things; the lessons from those Salad Bar/Hostess days are ones I still consider in my work today – work ethic, customer service, dependability, and that I look terrible in Maroon.

My son won’t always be a dishwasher (This is me praying) – this job will not be his last and is certainly not his passion –it’s the work of the inexperienced. As we gain value through experience and education, we have a right and a responsibility to align ourselves with work we both love and feel productive in – to find work that rewards us financially and interests us enough to enjoy the workday, much more often than not.

The risk is – in my opinion - worth the reward...and the reward of doing work you enjoy is enormous, with untold ramifications: Happier home life, stronger self confidence, positive role modelling for future generations, less stress, better balance, richer financial reward (as oft comes from developing a passion with energy and hard work) – its endless really.

I know I am one of the lucky few who enjoys her work– there are so many who do not...if I had my way I’d love to see everyone realigned into work that both suited their passions and their financial needs. Perhaps I’m naive to think it’s possible or just a little stubborn...but I believe we all can do and be what we choose to do and be. Clearly its not easy, or we’d see more people excited to get to work, but what if it were easy? What would you be doing now if it was easy to choose work that thrilled you?

 

Jennifer Taylor (Formerly Tortorella) is the Director of Information Security and Technology Recruiting with FootBridge Companies in Andover MA. She is also the Co-Director for DWC's Boston North.

Making it real

I have found the secret to successful networking.  Well, it's not really a secret, but a lot of people overlook this.  It's all about being yourself and being authentic.

I recently had coffee with an old friend, someone who I haven't seen in a couple of years.  I decided to approach this meeting as a conversation between two friends, an exchange of ideas rather than a meeting with a goal.  Of course, I had a goal for the meeting, I wanted his advice.

This new relaxed attitude helped make this meeting one of my most productive.  We really talked and exchanged ideas.  Ideas came up that probably wouldn't have surfaced if I had been so focused on the end result.

Sometimes, the slightest attitude shift can work wonders.

Nancy Loderick

What risks are you willing to take?

Last month my husband did the ultimate New England skiing adventure and went to Tuckerman's Ravine. For those non-skiers out there, going to Tuckerman's is an annual pilgrimage for skiers who love the back country and the way skiing was meant to be - no lifts, no groomed trails, no amenities. Saying you have skied it earns you bragging rights and according to Brian, "It was a life changing experience."

So why did I not go? I love to ski. I love a challenge and bragging is not only something I enjoy, I teach workshops on it! Well, lets just say that the risk was not worth the reward. You see people die on that mountain, avalanches happen almost daily and the hike up is long and hard for only 10 minutes of downhill skiing bliss. Part of me wanted to go and the "chick" part of me wanted to stay home, get my nails done and meet my girlfriend for a drink. After assessing the risks and looking at the potential outcomes I decided to stay home and let the boys do this one solo.

We all have to determine the level of risk we are willing to take in life. In the financial world this is called "risk tolerance" and knowing yours will help you determine how you want to invest, save and spend your hard earned cash. There are many ways to assess risk tolerance. There are quizzes, test, questionnaires, and more. But they all come down to one central question: What value do you place on security and what are you willing to gamble to make some money?

As an entrepreneur I know you need to take risks to make it in the business world. Here are some tips on how to take calculated chances that will result in money in the bank:

Ask for a raise
Take the chance and ask your boss or your clients for a raise. Okay, I know it is a recession and I know money is tight, but your value increases every year. If increasing your pay rate is not possible, then ask for something else of value. For example, a girlfriend of mine negotiated time for skating lessons into her deal!

Invest money in your business
You need to put money into your business in order to make additional revenue. For many business owners this feels risky and overwhelming. Questions like where do I spend my resources, who can I trust to work for or with me, and what if I don't realize a good return on investment abound. Yes, it is scary for many of us to financially invest in our businesses, but it is necessary for us to reach our fiscal goals.

Hire a financial advisor
A year ago this would not be a risky proposition. With the economic turmoil and uncertainty brought on by corrupt financial advisors such as Bernie Madoff and others, it is hard to trust advisors with our money. But there are many caring and ethical financial professionals who will do right by you and your funds. Take the time to interview a few, get references and referrals from friends and then make the best decision for you and your business.

What risks are you willing to take in the next year and how might they pay off for you and your bottom line? Me? I am going to invest more money in my company, say yes to opportunities that excite me and seriously consider skiing Tuckerman's with boys next spring. Yes, the reward just might be worth the risk!

Written by Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, LMHC, CPCC.  For more information about her work, visit www.kbkconnections.com.

Working with the Elements

For anyone living in the Northeast, it's been a washout of a spring/early summer.  It's as if all those times we sang "rain, rain, go away, come again another day," added up to a whole lot of "another days" all at once.  For this summer gal, who has a hard enough time making it through the winter, it's been tough.  I had to scrap my plans for creating an outdoor living space in our back porch area. Why make the effort when the summer is now only going to be 8 weeks?  Even my new hammock has only been used once.

I was so close to giving up outdoor pursuits and succumbing to Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Then, I decided to try "going with the flow."  My family and I figured if we can't beat the rain, we'll work with it.  Here's how we're doing it:

1. Adopting a new fashion statement - Wellies and shorts.  Nothing is more fun than some brightly colored rainboots (especially when you're puddle hopping).
2. Running in the rain - Surprisingly, it's not so bad jogging in the rain when you're just going to shower later anyhow.  A really good waterproof coat makes it even more do-able (and two pairs of running shoes so they can dry out between runs).
3. Surfing - While I have yet to partake, my kids and husband do, and if you're in the water with a wetsuit, who cares if it's raining?
4. Growing grass - After giving up on the rest of the outdoor improvements, I refocused my attention on growing grass. What better time to create a natural, chemical-free lush lawn than a solid month of rain?

As soon as I stopped fighting the elements, my outlook improved.  Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the weather.  But, I now know that I'll be able to make through until the sun comes out again.

Working with the elements is something we all need to do, and not just with the weather.  Especially when we find ourselves fighting the elements at work.

Yes, it may be an old boys' club, but rather than having a chip on our shoulder, maybe we need to find out ways to work with it, or around it.  What if you have a corporate downsizing bearing down on you?  Perhaps it's time to see about taking on new and different projects to learn new skills.  Leaders tend to rise to the top during crises.  Facing a never-ending job hunt?  Stop beating yourself up and take the opportunity to try something new.

We're all faced with challenges, but sometimes we need to step back and consider whether we're spending too much of our energy fighting against the elements, when we could be channeling that energy into using the elements to our advantage.

Diane K. Danielson
ceo, Downtown Women's Club

Three Things to Consider When Choosing a Social Media Strategy

Catherine Weber, CEO, of Weber Media Partners  (and one of my advisors) is asked all the time how to approach social media as a small business owner.  Catherine has boiled it down to three questions:

1. What are you trying to achieve? Branding? Leads? Direct sales?
2. Who are you trying to reach? Consumers? Business people? Others?
3. What resources do you have?  People? Time? Money?

She recommends you answer these three questions before launching into the social media realm.

For more insightful thought leadership, see Impressions Through Media, the Weber Media Partners blog.

Susan C. Hammond

www.schammond.com

DWC+ Webinar on Email Marketing by VerticalResponse

This month VerticalResponse sponsored our weekly teleclass where they taught us how to create cost effective, high impact email campaigns.

Public Speaking Lessons from Kathy Griffin

For our one-year anniversary, my husband was a good sport and let me drag him to a Kathy Griffin concert.  Now, Kathy is not everyone's cup of tea.  In fact, before she started her show the D-List, I was never a fan.  However, her hilarious takes on our celebrity culture are just too funny -- she's the gal that says what we're thinking but would never have the guts to say. 

However, what really won me over was her willingness to show the good, the bad and the ugly of her own life on the D-List.  Bombing at shows, stressing out about auditions (i.e. for QVC), parents deaths and dating - these were things we all can relate, too.  It's also commendable that she's hitting her stride at 48. 

During the concert, both my husband and I laughed as Kathy riffed on Hollywood, her dogs and her mother's aging (the latter of whom has become a celebrity in her own right).  But, I noted that we all could learn a few things on public speaking from her.

• If you have good content you don't need bells & whistles.  Kathy appears onstage in all black, with just a table and some water bottles.  She doesn't rely on visuals, nor does she have distracting outfits or jewelry.  Instead it's just her presenting us with a 2-hour rapid-fire monologue.
• Play to your core audience.  While she made a few apologies in advance to the "4 straight guys in the crowd whose wives dragged them there" (encouraging them to go to their safe place for a while), she focused on topics that 40-something women, and her gay followers, would love - i.e. Real Housewives, Suze Ormond, etc. 
• Make your audience feel special.  Many of Kathy's stories start with "I shouldn't be telling you this, but I'll let you in on a secret ..."  Who cares that she's telling the 5,000 members in the audience, we all felt like she was sharing an inside joke with us.
• Become a master storyteller.  Kathy does not tell jokes.  She tells stories, and she wraps stories inside stories so that you're hanging on right to the end.  By leaving a story open-ended, it keeps the audience engaged.

We don't have to be a professional comedian to be a good public speaker - we just need to find the right content and connect with the right audience.

Diane K. Danielson
ceo, DowntownWomensClub.com

The Twitterization of Celebrities

I'm not a celebrity groupie, although I do love me a good edition of People magazine. I've also been known to frequent sites like Jezebel.com.  But, the whole "celebrities twittering" thing is fascinating to me. 

Somehow I found my way to John Mayer's twitter page (looking up what Pedamundo was - saw it as a trending topic today on search.twitter.com). While on his page, I noticed he was tweeting with Josh Groban, who when I checked out his page saw he was trading tweets with Katy Perry (her other tweet pals weren't so quite so bizarre ... Lady GaGa, Dita Von Teese, Sarah Silverman and one of my favorite new artists who I once had the pleasure of hanging out with one weekend before I even knew who he was ... MIKA).

Now, assuming they are all "real" tweeters ... it was kind of amusing to see who knows who and who hangs out together.  Adding to the amusement factor was that some of their complaints were quite pedestrian (tired fingers from tweeting, poor cell phone coverage, missed flights).  I actually found these humdrum type of tweets from celebrities/artists quite refreshing. 

I'm wondering ... if we get to see celebrities as real people, will some of the "celebrity worship" start to go away?  Now, wouldn't that be a great thing for society?!

While we're on the celebrity topic:  Kudos to Stephen Colbert for his USO tour.  Just brilliant.