Kaira Rouda | Kaira Rouda

30 01, 2011

Real You: The social media allure

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:22+00:00January 30, 2011|entrepreneurs, passions|Comments Off on Real You: The social media allure

I'll admit it. I'm hooked on Twitter and Facebook. And I'm there, almost too often. But in my defense, I love it out there. Yesterday, I discovered the Women Entrepreneur Festival taking place in New York and on the hashtag #wefestival. Following the tweets, I was almost in the room. It was so inspiring. Meanwhile, on Facebook, I watch my high school and college friends' children grow, share in their accomplishments and meet new friends with shared interests - from all over the world. I've also started my first ever fan page and it's almost silly how joyful I become when another person "Like"s my Kaira Rouda Books page. (Sally Fields, anyone?) I've found folks to be either all in or completely disdainful when it comes to social media. And what I will say, to those who remain in disdain, try LinkedIn. It's like sticking [...]

21 01, 2011

Real You: Friday night scramble

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:28+00:00January 21, 2011|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Friday night scramble

As a mom of two teenage basketball players, Friday nights are tough. For my youngest, it's the only night of the week he has a game. My older son has two or three games a week. So, when Friday night comes around, I hope they aren't scheduled to play at the exact same time. Usually they are. Tonight is a 5:30 p.m. start for the older son and a 6:15 p.m. start for the youngest. I'll be late, but hopefully there, for the second game. I was stressing. Apologizing to my youngest. But then I stopped. I reminded myself I'm doing the best I can. I will be there, albeit late. As long as we let our kids know we care by making the effort even if it isn't easy, as long as we're trying our best, we're doing OK. Tonight as I watch the [...]

15 01, 2011

Real You: New look, new website, same me

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:29+00:00January 15, 2011|Hope|Comments Off on Real You: New look, new website, same me

It's sort of like when you get your haircut - a big cut. It's still you under there, but it's you, well, different. That's the new KairaRouda.com! I've been working with amazing, talented people to bring together the best of what my sites have to offer, while also highlighting another path my career is taking. (And no worries - I'm still all about women entrepreneurs and you'll find all of the Real You Incorporated content at RealYouIncorporated.com.) Did I tell you I have a debut novel coming out in May! Ok, maybe you've heard that from me just a couple of times recently, but it's all so exciting and new for me. And it's so fun to share with you. To that end, one of the best parts - I think - of my new site is the chance to read the first chapter of Here, Home, [...]

9 01, 2011

Any Book by Susan Isaacs

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:39+00:00January 9, 2011|Books I Love|Comments Off on Any Book by Susan Isaacs

I love books — really — all books. My favorite classic: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. My favorite nonfiction words of wisdom: A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. My inspiration for my fiction novels — Susan Isaacs. If you haven’t, you must pick up one — or all - of Susan Isaacs novels. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS is provably my favorite, but I loved CLOSE RELATIONS, ALMOST PARADISE and COMPROMISING POSITIONS. Well, you get the idea. Susan’s protagonists are real, witty women with purpose and spunk. They take care of business, and they do it with a smile. Whether it’s a murder mystery or simply a cheating husband, she deals with everyday life in an enlightening way. As a product of the suburbs, that is my setting and it is in her books, too. If somehow one of my books [...]

13 12, 2010

Real You: Longing for those Lego days?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:42+00:00December 13, 2010|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Longing for those Lego days?

Yes, it's Christmas time. And now, instead of heading to one of those amazing, fun toy stores - I especially love the locally owned, creative ones - I head online. Don't get me wrong - I love online shopping. But before, when the kids were little and the internet wasn't so pervasive, toy shopping at Christmas was a very fun pursuit. Now, it's all about a budget. The taller the kid, the smaller the gift and the more expensive. It's just that simple. And, I've discovered, the bigger the kid, the more virtual the gift. Gift cards. Video games. iTunes cards. Where's the fun in that? The fun is in watching the kids who used to build Lego castles grow up. It's no longer those squeezable Christmas mornings - but there aren't any overstimulation, nap-needed, diaper changing moments either. All in all, it's fun to [...]

2 12, 2010

Real You: The difference

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:52+00:00December 2, 2010|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: The difference

What is your brand's difference? Your unique, authentic differentiation? Do you have one? Of course. It's you. You are your personal and business brand's unique competitive advantage, but often we don't articulate our differnce clearly. Obviously. Proudly. Why? It's easier to hide. It's a lot easier to appear corporate, "professional". To blend in - to not attract attention. To play it safe. But why? Don't allow your personal or business brand to be more of the same. All of the great brands in the world are unique. They stand for something. They have personality. I'm writing this from the seat on a Virgin America flight. Their staff is spunky, their planes are clean. They are different. It feels different to be on one of their flights. Richard Branson is different. He stands out. He's a personality and a defined personal brand. Can you and your [...]

23 11, 2010

Real You: A word from a frequent flyer with metal implants

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:56+00:00November 23, 2010|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: A word from a frequent flyer with metal implants

If you listen to the news, you realize there is a growing alarm over the TSA's full-body pat downs. Here is what you may not realize. All of us with metal implants - knees, hips, etc. - and other medical conditions have grown accustomed to the humiliation of additional screening since 9/11. Sure, we put up with it. We're patriotic. We were the ones in a big line in the glass cages, waiting for additional screening. We're the older women with hip and knee replacements. Yep, that's us. We were wanded - sometimes well, sometimes aggressively. Usually once the TSA agent figured out the limb or joint that beeped, we'd be quickly wanded and on our way. So we got good. We got really good at wearing no metal, anywhere but where the implant is. Sweatpants. Sports bras. Yoga wear. Nothing that would beep. No [...]

18 11, 2010

Real You: What ‘no’ means

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:16:05+00:00November 18, 2010|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: What ‘no’ means

Has someone told you 'no' lately? When you're pursuing your dreams and stepping into your power and going for it, it's tough to face. Especially if you're asking for a favor, especially if you're asking for a favor from a woman you admire. But what you have to remember - even if someone you'd like to have be your mentor says no, or even if a co-worker won't cover for you, or even if you really need the help on your charity board - you have to respect the other person's ability to set boundaries for herself. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Try to understand her no to you is nothing personal. In fact, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with her and her life. Accept it. Appreciate it. And move on. Life's too short to question other [...]

25 10, 2010

Real You: That’s what friends are for. . .

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:16:11+00:00October 25, 2010|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: That’s what friends are for. . .

Just back from my college reunion and I had a blast. Meandering around campus, buying things at the bookstore, cheering at the football game, sharing memories at parties - and well, just reconnecting. Friends - new and old - help us stay connected to ourselves. They remind us of who we were, and who we've become. They cheer us on, reflect our passions back to us. And they remind us, always, to count our blessings. Each and every one.

20 09, 2010

Real You: Choices

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:16:17+00:00September 20, 2010|aha, authors, choice, Kaira Rouda, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Choices

I am stuck. Doesn't happen much, because I try to be a woman of action. Afterall, my refrain is put your passion into action. But here's the problem. I need to choose a cover for my novel - Here, Home, Hope - being published in May 2011. But there are two good choices and I'm not sure which one to go with. People do judge books by their covers. It's arguably the biggest, most important decision surrounding a book. The cover conveys visual cues about tone, subject, substance and so much more. And well, that's why I'm stuck. Please, if you like to read women's fiction and you have an opinion one way or another, please let me know! The choices are here, on my Facebook Fan Page, Kaira Rouda Books. And, of course, I'd love for you to become a fan. Pick a cover, [...]

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