Winning Strategies

Do the Right Thing.....Always and Forever

The best advice I was ever given, and the advice that I continue to give others is to ALWAYS do the right thing.

I hear you; you are in tough situations in companies, you are frustrated.  Your organization is pushing you- they have a bottom line that they are fighting to maintain.  You will go further, do better, and always be in a better place if you do the right thing despite corporate pressures.  I am disheartened by the single moms that are struggling in companies, and the struggles that many of you are facing in the workforce. 

The world is changing.  For those of you that are writing about fair pay problems; relief is coming.  President Obama has passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html).  This is a positive step in the movement towards equal pay (women still trail men by 22% in situations where they have the same job and same experience).

For those of you that are writing about problems with discrimination, I can only say that every day is a new day and each day will bring a new sunrise.  Continue to work hard, create results and we will see a tide of change slowly build momentum.  I know you have children to support, and those of you that are writing me are the wage earners.  I care about each of you.  I cry my way through most of your emails.  I struggled for years to support my children.  It was a long arduous road.  My memory is not that short that I don't remember the stress, strain, and struggles of not always being able to provide for my children's needs.  Unfortunately, many of the decisionmakers in organizations do not have that perspective.  Many have never struggled the way single moms have struggled.  I often sit pondering , how can we change the world?  How can we make it better?  How can we create positive change?

Never give up, never quit trying, never be discouraged.  Continue to write me...I'm reading all your notes, emails  and letters.  We will, combined across all of us- - - - as a team- - - - coming together- - -, change the world one day at a time.  Keep the faith.

Women helping women

I continue to speak, listen, and mentor in and around the corporate world.  One thing that I hear VERY consistently is that we (as women) are not lending a helping hand to other women within our circles, our companies, and those around us.  Sometimes, we feel competitive pressures- we think we are competing with THEM and it becomes US versus THEM.  I am making a personal request for each of you to TRY to think of it as US.  TRY to reach out and lend a helping hand to someone in your organization.  You will find that there are PLENTY of pieces of pie- - - helping others WILL NOT KEEP YOU from succeeding.

How about if I commit this to you....if you will reach out and help those around you AND if it ends up costing you your position- - - I will find you another position.  I commit that to you.  Companies need people that want to help out.  Companies will thrive if you can help those around you to be more productive, more confident, more results oriented and - GENERALLY- - if they get more done and achieve higher results more efficiently.  EVERYBODY WINS!  I know sometimes we are driven by fear.  Stand tall and allow your fears to diminish.

I hear stories of us leaving people out, making fun of those on the team, and general non team behavior.  Try to think of that left out person as a son or daughter.  Put them under your wing and help them to succeed.  If they are not cut out for the job- - that will become evident WITHOUT us treating them like a social outcast.

Promise me that you will try to reach out- - lend a helping hand- - - smile at a stranger at the office - - and help someone in need of a little help. 

Your LinkedIn Profile

So- you have accepted the importance of your brand and you also accept that you will enforce your brand with your online presence- - - now what?  Now you will refine your Linkedin profile to attract the attention of the viewers that search for and view your profile.

Ever read an add in a Sunday newspaper that made you want to run to the store and make a purchase?  You want to create a profile that appeals to the reader.  You want to create an appealing representation of the work you have done, your interests and passions, and the reason that someone may want to SEEK YOU OUT and offer you a better position.

Ok, I have heard you.  You are not looking for a better position.  It does not matter.  You will begin to build your awareness and brand so that WHEN YOU DO want to look for work, it will be easy to find.

Step Away from the Title

Within corporate america, we have become addicted to titles.  These titles within our company DO NOT mean anything to people outside of that company.  You need to explain what you do in an industry standard way that would appeal to people at ANY company, not just your company.

Recognize the Internal Benefits

If you are working in a big company, there are internal benefits to beefing up your LinkedIn profile.  There could be important leaders within your company that do not KNOW YOU and do not KNOW WHAT YOU DO.  This is not a great position to be in.  If a position comes open that you would be great for, they WILL NOT think of you if they do not KNOW YOU.

Write a Fantastic Advertisement

Your LinkedIn profile is really much more than an online resume.  It is an advertisement for you.  It should show Return on Investments that companies have benefited from having YOU on their Staff.  It should be a results oriented view of YOU.  The reader should be excited about what YOU could do for THEIR COMPANY.  

Surf Around Linkedin Profiles

What JUMPS out at you?  What amazes you?  Your profile should AMAZE others.  It is a competitive landscape.  SPEND SOME TIME ON IT.  Refine it until it jumps off the page.  Find profiles that you like.  I happen to like several profiles to include - but not limited to- -Joey Sudomir, Mark Eimer, and Paige Speck.  Keep enhancing your profile.  It will pay off.

I helped someone redo their profile and they got 3 interviews the next week.  Recruiters are watching. They are looking for candidates.  They may be looking for you- - - - - but you may have done such a poor job of selling yourself that they cant find you.  Make it easier for them to find you.  Stop inhibiting your future opportunities.  Accept the online branding capabilities and excel at creating an exciting and :off the charts- - - - profile.

I cant wait to see it.

Thriving in a Tough Economy

I met with a group of women to discuss how to survive and even thrive in a tough economy.  We covered topics that you've probably heard before, and some new topics.  Review each with a mind on what you can incorporate into your list of To Dos. 

There are things that you can do to make a difference in your work lfie.  There are things in this list that will PUSH you towards success EVEN IN THIS ECONOMY.  Try it, I DARE YOU!

Successful principles:

• Believing in yourself- often times we hold ourselves back.  We don't believe in ourselves.  We 'forget' our capabilities.  We don't apply for jobs that we should apply for.  We don't volunteer for projects that we'd be good at.  We are afraid of failure, so sometimes we don't try.
• Finding Your Strengths- in order to thrive, to truly add enormous value to your employers, you need to understand your strengths.  Try taking the Strengths Assessment online after buying the Strengthsfinder 2.0 book  http://strengths.gallup.com/110440/About-StrengthsFinder-2.aspx.  Then ensure to incorporate your strengths into you job on a daily basis.  You will stand out if you use your strengths at work.
• Finding Good Mentors- look around and find 1 or 2 good mentors to help guide you down a path.
• Build a Personal Board of Directors- see my earlier post on the topic:  http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2009/10/your-personal-board-of-directors.html
• Keeping up  Your Network- you cannot afford to ignore your network in this market.  The only people finding jobs are finding them through business and family/friend connections.  If you've let your network swindle, now is the time to begin building relationships and reviving your lifeline to other organizations and people.
• Keeping Your Eyes on the Horizon- ever noticed clouds off in the distance that indicated a storm coming?  The same is true of your work life.  You can watch financial revenues and selected metrics to see a storm coming.  Attend educational events and learn new things.  If there are new systems, technologies, trends, you need to be at the forefront of them to guaranteed a cotinuous paycheck.
• Building a Strong Personal Brand- This is very important.  If the senior executives are sitting in a room naming people to be laid off, what is going through their minds about you?  You ened to control the value message that they think of when they think of you.  Develop and continue to build on a strong personal brand.
• Obtaining Pay and Position- You may only get 1 in every 4 promotions that you apply for.  You can get to where you are going by persevering.  Persistence will beat resistence every time.  Keep trying, never give up, never lose faith.
• Keeping a Positive Perspective- We live in one of the richest countries in the world.  We are clothed in the robes of kings and queens and have access to running water, toilets, houses, furniture, etc.  Consider taking a trip to a third world country to give yourself a new perspective.   Find a new ruler with which to measure your life and your success.
• Setting Targets/Goals- Often times we don't dream big enough.  We set targets that are lower than they should be.  Reach for the moon.  Target HIGH goals, then try to achieve them.

I wish you many years of success as you work to thrive in this economy.  Best of luck.

Alliance of Technology and Women (ATW)- Speaking on Thriving in a Tough Economy

Ever heard of the ATW?  It is an organization in Dallas that supports the growth and development of women in technology.

From their web site "

Mission

ATW Dallas is a dynamic non-profit organization that supports women and men worldwide who share the common interests of empowering women in technology, increasing the number of women in executive roles and encouraging women and girls to enter technology fields.

Goals

EDUCATE: ATW Dallas will educate members on technology and management trends, and offer personal and professional development.

CONNECT: ATW Dallas will provide opportunities for women to connect with fellow professionals and build relationships and alliances with business leaders.

MENTOR: ATW Dallas will host programs for members and young women to access positive role models in technology fields.

ATW Dallas offers the following programs in support of our mission:

Monthly Meetings 
Our chapter meetings alternate each month between connecting programs and speaker programs on the topics of technology and professional development. 

Executive Leadership Forum 
Executive Leadership programs are designed to appeal to high-level executives by offering events and programs in a close-community format to promote women in executive technology roles and they run quarterly.

GREAT MINDS™ 
GREAT MINDS™ helps young girls become interested in technology. The GREAT MINDS™ Program bridges the gap between industry and schools (students, educators and parents) by establishing community programs and groups focused on reaching out to young girls.  Scholarships are part of our Outreach programs.

Mentoring
ATW Dallas fulfills its goal of integrating Mentoring - for the mutual benefit and enrichment of each member - into meetings through a round table session. "

Tonight I'll be speaking on "Standing Tall and Thriving in a Tough Economy".  Hope to see you all there.

http://www.atwdallas.org/UpcomingEvents.html

Healthcare Networking

Want to connect to executives in the healthcare or technology fields?  Depending on what type of executives you'd like to connect to, there are several organizations that you can check out.

For fellow CIOs, the Dallas area SIM is a strong network  (http://www.simnet.org/Chapters/Midwest/DallasFortWorth/tabid/197/Default.aspx)  It is across industries, not just health care.

To connect with COOs and area CEOs, the ACHE of North Texas is a great place.  I am on the board.  (http://northtexas.ache.org/).  They have great educational events.

To connect with CFOs, HFMA is the organization.  The local chapter is the Lone Star chapter.  (http://www.lonestarhfma.org/)

To connect with Women in Technology:
Try the ATW- Alliance of Technology for Women-ATW Dallas is a dynamic non-profit organization that supports women and men worldwide who share the common interests of empowering women in technology, increasing the number of women in executive roles and encouraging women and girls to enter technology fields.   (http://www.atwdallas.org/)

or

WITI- Women in Technology International aims to help women advance by providing access to - and support from - other professional women working in all sectors of technology.  (http://www.witi.com/dallas/)

Remember- you cannot afford NOT to network in this economy.  Executives with a great network find it easier to find work when necessary.

The Solitude

I love the quiet of the mornings. This morning I hiked to the lake. The birds sang beautifully, crickets chirped and a slow cool breeze swept by. It was quiet.

No kids, no phones, no television. Just the wind, the animals, and gorgeous scenery. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the moment. These moments are your life.

Paying it Forward

Nothing will stand out more, be more noticeable, or move more mountatins in your life than if you spend time paying it forward.

It is so unusual to meet/see/spend time with people that are putting others' needs and cares before their own.  There is a pervasive 'me first' attitude that has virally afflicted many in our society.

People are conditioned to this 'me first' attitude.  Stand out from the crowd by paying it forward.  Offer to mentor someone at your work.  Take a meal to someone in your neighborhood that lost a loved one.  Volunteer for a charity.  Offer to help the next time someone says that they need something.  We hear needs everyday that we speed by because we are so busy.

Dare to stand out by 'paying it forward'.  I dare you.

Your Personal 'Board of Directors'

Companies have a Board of Directors that keep them running strong and growing.  These 'boards' handle the toughest decisions and oversee the general operations of the company.  The credentials of the membership of these boards are impressive.  They are a variety of business professionals with expertise in different verticles and skillsets.  Some have financial leadership positions, others have expertise in Human Resources or information technology. 

You need a personal 'Board of Directors' to guide your career.  This board should be made of of 4 or 5 very senior level executives from across varying fields and specialties.  These are the people that you will tap into before you make career moves and major decisions.  They will help guide you the way a Board of Directors helps to guide an organization.

I have a personal Board of Directors.  I consult with them when I'm in need of wise council.  They give me career advice and help me to stay on track.  They tell me the pitfalls to watch out for and they , up to this point, have been right on the money.  They have kept me from making choices that would have been harmful in the long run. 

My board is made up of the following:

* Senior executive at Microsoft
* Executive coach
* Healthcare executive that has held varying board level positions
* Senior level CFO 
* Executive recruiter

This may give you some ideas.  I'm advising that you form a list of your board of directors.  Begin to mentally think of them as your 'guides'.  They will help you stay afloat in this job market, advise you on difficult decisions, and help you to thrive in a tough economy.

How do you get it all done?

This is probably the question I hear most often, "Bethany, how do you get everything done?"  It is simple.....I don't try to do it all.  And the things I do- - -I do the most efficiently as possible. 

If you are a busy working executive, there are some things you should consider moving off your plate.  Here are some ideas:

1. Paying bills: 
   
   You can accomplish bill paying in an easier way than even your bank bill paying options allow and definitely easier than any manual processes that you have in place.  Paytrust (www.paytrust.com) obtains a PO box for you.  All of your bills are then re-directed to that PO box and imaged into a database for you.  The bills are electronicalled stored, collated, and tracked for you.  You can then 'point and click' your way to completion for all of your bill paying responsibilities.
   
   Tracking bills that have been paid and reporting capabilities on these bills are amazing.  I have been extremely satisfied with this amazing tool and so will you.
   
2. Personal Assistant-  Ever thought about a personal assistant to run errands for you, wait in line, or just buy a gift for a relative?  Try the services of My Personal Valet (http://www.mpvalet.com/home.html).
   
   This Dallas based personal assistant service offers packages for 3 hours every other week, three hours a week or five hours a week.  Consider obtaining help for all of those things that you can't possibly get done. The hardest part is to actually admit that you need it- so just do that and get on with calling them. (smile)
   
3. Photos- You take hoards of pictures and never share them. 
   
   Well, you are living in the dark ages if you haven't considered an online picture sharing/storage/order tool like Snapfish (www.snapfish.com).  Not only are their rates cost effective, but you can choose to electronically share pictures with your relatives and allow them to order prints easily online.  Alleviate ever having to drop off or pick up pictures at Walmart/Walgreens, etc or mail pictures to relatives again. 
   
4. Maid Service- OK- I know you've gotten quotes and have found maid service entirely too pricey for what you get for the time that they are at your house. 
   
   Well, I suggest you think outside of the box.  Many of you know people that are out of work, try negotiating your own 'package'.  Even the existing services are hungry and will allow you to negotiate a package that works for you.  It isn't against the rules to ask them to do laundry or change sheets.  Figure out what you need and ask for it.  You could potentially find a solution that works for you.
   
5. After school help- The kids won't do their homework, no problem.  Find a neighboring teenager to help them through it. 

Getting it all done isn't about how much you do, it is about how innovative and ingenious you can be.  You can creatively find solutions to help you 'Get it All done'!  Your time is valuable and you can only do so much.  Figure out what you can do and find solutions for the rest.

So- there is it- - - - that is how I 'get it all done'.  I use lots of resources and help; many people help me to 'DO IT ALL'. 

(Not what you expected, is it?) (smile)