2009 February

28 02, 2009

Are you taking advantage of the wonderful network of words?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:38+00:00February 28, 2009|English major, social network, thesaurus, words|Comments Off on Are you taking advantage of the wonderful network of words?

I was an English major in college and have been a writer at heart throughout my career, so for me, and my personal brand, blogging and twittering and the like are fun. An ever-evolving way to reach my audience through the power of the written word. But for those of you who aren't writers, there is hope. Visuwords, an online graphical dictionary and thesaurus, may be a great place to start. Blogs should have a point, and tweets should be informative, so start with a kernel - a word. In my case I entered "social" and the chart you see shows all the many links and extensions of the word in a fun, web-world way. It's the word "social"s network. (Couldn't resist.) With that one word, social, a whole network of blog posts were revealed just through the relationship of words. Try it out next [...]

27 02, 2009

Turn part-time passions into a full-time gig

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:46+00:00February 27, 2009|business, economy, entrepreneurship, part-time business, passions|Comments Off on Turn part-time passions into a full-time gig

Have you listened to your heart lately? In the second step of the Real You Process, we explore your passions—the things that make your heart sing. Maybe you love working with children, you're an excellent writer or you have a killer voice that you haven't used in awhile. We all have passions and talents that have been pushed aside because life got in the way. But that shouldn't be an excuse. Start living your passions. Especially in this time of economic uncertainty, you need to have a back-up plan. Something to lean on. Something that makes you smile each and every day. Use that talent, and turn it into something profitable by starting your own side business. Here are some quick tips: • Start simple, on the side. You're not ditching your full-time job here. Not just yet, anyway. • Take your time and think [...]

26 02, 2009

Real You: When a free gift looks cheap

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:56+00:00February 26, 2009|advertising, Clinique, gifts with purchase, samples|Comments Off on Real You: When a free gift looks cheap

One of the guilty pleasures of cosmetics shopping is the gift with purchase, which has been luring us into retail stores since the beginning of time. I remember the good old days when the gifts were amazing: real leather totes; a full assortment of real-sized cosmetics; or a simple, but classy, special compact. And while I realize it is the time of cut-backs, the lipstick economy is stronger than ever. Attempting to tap into that small splurge mentality is Clinique, with the buy something for $5 and get the gift above. Sure, the gifts looked cool when they were all stacked up everywhere around the counter: happy purple-sided glossy boxes, an interesting design on the front panel and on the back, a glamour shot of three products included inside. Caught my eye, and created a purchase. But. When I arrived home and opened my box, [...]

25 02, 2009

Pay cuts and lay-offs affecting you?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:54:03+00:00February 25, 2009|interviews, job loss, personal branding, recession|Comments Off on Pay cuts and lay-offs affecting you?

If you are one of the thousands of Americans that has been laid off due to the recession, don’t fret! Your personal brand can handle it. You may view this as shameful, but it’s just part of life. Simply move on. Here’s how. First, don’t take it personally; this is business. Companies around the country are laying off employees, and thousands of people are having to pick up and dust themselves off. Just shake it off and start gathering as many references as possible—and take samples of your work with you. Next, stay positive and focused, and don’t waste time. Then, enter each interview with confidence, being quick and honest about your termination with potential employers. Remember, being fired may seem like the end of the world when it happens, but it can also turn into an opportunity to move onto something bigger and better.

23 02, 2009

Real You: No Light? No Trouble?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:54:10+00:00February 23, 2009|business, Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, real estate, realtors|Comments Off on Real You: No Light? No Trouble?

Yesterday at lunch I was enjoying a great sandwich at Camille's Sidewalk Cafe when I looked up and saw this sign on the wall next to my booth: Green -> NormalRed -> AlarmNoLight -> Trouble It made me think. Do we too often ignore the signs right in front of us in business? I know, speaking for the real estate industry, we were in a state of greed and denial before the bust. The government's goal was to increase home ownership rates; the mortgage companies made money easy to get; the number of real estate agents had reached record numbers nationwide; and everybody who was anybody had a no-miss real estate opportunity. In February of 2006, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors released a book: Why the Real Estate Boom Will Not Bust. The bust had started in the fourth quarter of [...]

23 02, 2009

Sometimes, staying the same is the best survival tactic.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:07:49+00:00February 23, 2009|Chef-O-Nette, entrepreneurs, experience, tradition|Comments Off on Sometimes, staying the same is the best survival tactic.

I noticed a trend in my tips: Most of them, and many of my examples of astounding entrepreneurs, deal with folks who have revolutionized an industry, or who have kept up with the times through change and constant improvements to their business model. But what about the success stories that abound of businesses and entrepreneurs who thrive through lack of change? Through tradition and continuity? My 8th grade son and I had lunch together at one such place yesterday. The diner is called Chef-O-Nette, and it's been in business since 1955. I'd link to it, but the diner doesn't have a Web site. Now located in a recently remodeled strip shopping center, the old fashioned font of the sign is the only outward expression of a timeless interior. But as soon as you walk through the doors, the Formica counter tops, naugahyde booths, laminated, hand-lettered [...]

20 02, 2009

Time to enter the family business?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:07:58+00:00February 20, 2009|business relationships, career, family business, passions, real estate|Comments Off on Time to enter the family business?

The question of whether or not to join a family business is a tough one. You have been given an opportunity, that’s for sure, but it is smart to carefully evaluate the situation before you jump in. I recommend asking yourself the following: Are you personally passionate about this business? If you’re not, it may not be right for you. Do you have experience in the field? If not, are you willing to learn, and do you think you have what it takes to be successful? What does the future hold? Will you be an equal decision-maker, and will you be able to grow with the company? And perhaps most important, will joining the family business be at all awkward? You may feel like you have to justify your existence to outsiders down the road. Some folks deal with that better than others. As you [...]

19 02, 2009

What is your secret sauce? Is it time to add a new ingredient?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:07+00:00February 19, 2009|Big Mac, customer loyalty, McDonalds|Comments Off on What is your secret sauce? Is it time to add a new ingredient?

OK, I'll admit it. I can still sing the lyrics to the McDonald's Big Mac commercial: two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Ta da! Did I get that stuck in your head, too? For McDonald's - and the rest of the kings of fast service restaurants - the key to success is consistent, quality delivery. You get what you ordered, what you are familiar with, whether you order a Big Mac in Big Sky, Montana, or in the Big Apple. That's why, on any given day in the US, one-fifth of the population eats fast food. If your business is following a consistency model like McDonald's, now's the time for extreme quality control. No slips, no skimps and you'll keep your customers coming back for more. But what if your business is based on unique products [...]

18 02, 2009

Maintaining stable employer-employee relations

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:13+00:00February 18, 2009|communications, economy, employees, job loss, laughter, office relations, smiles, stress|Comments Off on Maintaining stable employer-employee relations

In a climate where leaders have to make difficult cost-cutting decisions, employer-employee relations can often get a bit rocky. To maintain good a good rapport, it’s important for employers to communicate and get to know their employees. I mean really take the time to interact with them on a daily basis. Go beyond what’s happening at work, and show an interest in their lives. A real, genuine conversation is comforting; share a story or a laugh with your employees. A little interest goes a long way. Still, it’s best to exercise caution. You don’t need to know the details of their personal lives, and you certainly don’t want to pry. But chances are good that by showing a little interest in what they’re all about, you’ll create an employer-employee relationship that will benefit both sides of the equation.

16 02, 2009

Is the glass ceiling still around?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:27+00:00February 16, 2009|entrepreneurs, glass ceiling, salary, women in business, workforce, workplace|Comments Off on Is the glass ceiling still around?

As the advancement of women is pushing new boundaries, many are wondering if the “glass ceiling” still exists. While it’s true that women are breaking the glass ceiling in some careers far more than others, such as real estate for example, they have a long way to go in other fields. Women make up 46.5 percent of the workforce, but they represent only 12 percent of all corporate officers. Those are figures that can’t be ignored. However, according to an article on AOL, some of the professions where women are earning more than men include sales engineers, statisticians, legislators, aerospace engineers, advertising managers and more. As you probably know, many women are also turning to entrepreneurship as an alternative. By establishing their real brands, they’re learning that they can make it to the top on their own terms.

Monthly Archives: February 2009