Kaira Rouda | Kaira Rouda

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.

13 02, 2009

Want visibility? Be an expert.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:36+00:00February 13, 2009|Chris Schumacher, Donny Deutsche, expertise, Suze Orman, Visibility, YouTube|Comments Off on Want visibility? Be an expert.

You're already an expert! You just need a definition. Here's the dictionary definition of expert:• adept: having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude; "adept in handicrafts"; "an adept juggler"; "an expert job"; "a good mechanic";• a person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully Now what's your own personal expertise? Here's the situation. To build your personal brand and your business brand, you need to be differentiated. Unique and authentic. If you aren't creating a new widget or service, then you're creating a new twist, a better twist hopefully, on a new widget or service. Otherwise, you're not going to be able to sustain your business in the long run in this economy. Expertise in what you do, and what you make, is crucial today. But even if you are THE best, the greatest widget maker out there, it won't matter unless you [...]

12 02, 2009

Buy an ad: Save a magazine (or a newspaper)

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:46+00:00February 12, 2009|ads, advertising, magazines, newspapers, People magazine|Comments Off on Buy an ad: Save a magazine (or a newspaper)

Thinking about advertising in print media? Now may be the best time ever. I have to be honest. I have been at odds for awhile with print publications, especially daily newspapers. Yes, it’s true, there was a love-hate relationship there based on decades of control (the newspaper’s) and decades of increased cost (my real estate company’s ). Same space as last year? That’s only a 12 percent increase this year, the rep would say. Oh, wow, thank you. How about if I cut my space in half? Well, we’ll double the cost and still add on the 12 percent. Sound good? Bleh. That was the sorry state of affairs between newspaper classified ad reps and real estate company marketing folks until the Internet was born and got mass. Newspapers’ Sunday classified sections were “the place” we all believed that consumers would always look for new [...]

11 02, 2009

Turn your Passion into a Business

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:55+00:00February 11, 2009|business, economy, glass ceiling, passions, women entrepreneurs|Comments Off on Turn your Passion into a Business

With companies being pulled in every direction and employees clinging to their jobs, it seems like women all around me are becoming entrepreneurs. According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, women are starting businesses at more than twice the rate of men—maybe even more. In fact, a woman starts a business every 60 seconds. They are employing one of every seven workers in the U.S., and the majority of women-owned businesses continue to grow about two times faster than other firms. Now that I’ve wowed you with the facts, let’s talk about why this is happening. Well, for starters, women are tired of being held back. Many view entrepreneurship as the only way to break the glass ceiling because other, more traditional channels have not yielded the desired results. Also, with our changing economic times, women are taking the time to step back and [...]

10 02, 2009

Now is not the time to hide!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:09:02+00:00February 10, 2009|authentic, connecting, don't hide, personal branding|Comments Off on Now is not the time to hide!

Ok, so it's winter. And the economy is well, bleaker than the next storm headed our way. Your first instinct these days may be to just give up. Whether it's your dream of starting a business, or changing the course of your career, it can be a daunting time. And it's especially so if you allow negative self-talk to stand in your way. BUT, if you don't have faith in your personal brand, how can anyone else? Seriously. So now is not the time to hide - it's time to shine. If you're out there in the world, in your power, there is no stopping you. Especially now. People are drawn to authentic, unique, visible and passionate people. It's the 101 of marketing and personal branding. Read about Karin Crawford and how she builds her flower business through the power of connecting. As Karin says, [...]

9 02, 2009

How to build your personal brand

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:09:09+00:00February 9, 2009|passions, personal branding, snarks|Comments Off on How to build your personal brand

Defining your personal brand can be overwhelming. We are complex individuals with so many passions and aspects to our lives. So where do you start? Begin by taking a look in your rear-view mirror. By that I mean step back and take some time to think about where you are in your career—and where you want to be. The process of introspection is so necessary and so helpful when it comes to defining your goals and setting your course. Next, define your passions. I like to refer to passions as the things in life that make your heart sing. My advice is to keep your list to four or five. Then, find the real people in your life. That means separating yourself from negative influencers (aka snarks). Next, follow your instincts. Use your intuition to your advantage. All of these elements working together help to [...]

5 02, 2009

Are you and your spouse keeping financial secrets?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:09:14+00:00February 5, 2009|finances, secrets, spouse, working together|Comments Off on Are you and your spouse keeping financial secrets?

It's happening everywhere. Stress levels are on the rise. What we know is that during times of pressure and stress, men isolate and women connect. Many men, during these stressful times, are isolating. They are putting on a brave face, even as their work worlds crumble around them. In some of the saddest cases we've seen, the distress and fear of failure, layoffs and social isolation have led to heart attacks, strokes and even suicides. Literally, the financial crisis is breaking hearts, according to health.com. If you're like me, working in a family business, side-by-side with your spouse, it's a great time to make sure you're on the same page. On the same POSITIVE page. Have a survival plan, and take action. Together. Today's New York Times' article Resilient in Hard Times: Family Business focuses on the positive power of fighting the recession as a [...]

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