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General Motors - fresh from yesterday's Chapter 11 bankruptcy announcement - unveiled a new 60 second television spot titled Reinvention. The spot is full of Americana images - baseball, big cities, folks hugging, sports fans, a tattered American flag, some familiar product shots, and the now, also cliched, nod to going green: plants growing, solar panels, windmills. You get the picture. And in case you don't, you'll see the spot, along with newspaper ads, radio spots and the like soon in your market. Nothing about a 60-second television campaign says reinvention, except for saying the word "reinvention." You know and I know nobody watches television commercials anymore, and for a company in bankruptcy to spend our money (yes, we own GM now) on image advertising seems, well, business as usual. We all have a stake in seeing GM succeed now. How about a little reinvention [...]

It's great to take a break, especially a spring break with your kids. I'm blessed that all four of mine were together this year, for our last family spring break. I say the last, because my oldest is headed to college next year and the breaks don't line up. To say that having him around for 17 spring breaks and then thinking about his impending absence put an added poignancy to this break, would be an understatement. I have found myself sighing a lot more than usual, that's for sure. His future is exciting. The roots we've provided have given him the wings he needs to select a university across the country from home. And that's what parents give their children - roots and wings. In business, it's much the same. We nurture our employees and their dreams, and when they decide to move on, [...]

Share your vision with each employee, and be sure to follow it up with action. To make it work, you must stay true to your vision every day. Be consistent. There’s no waffling when it comes to reflecting your style and your brand. And make it real. Think about how you interact with your employees. Is the way you act consistent with the qualities that make up your brand? Your employees need to know the real you. They need to know the things that make you tick—your passions. When your daily actions reflect the vision you have for the company, your leadership skills will blossom, and every member of your team will be on board. What do you have in store for 2009?

Finding and targeting a well defined audience will help your business be successful. And focusing on women is a great idea. You may be surprised to learn that women make up 51 percent of the U.S. population, but make 85 percent of all purchasing decisions. So even if your business doesn’t cater specifically to women, more than likely they’re still the ones making the decisions. But remember, women are savvy consumers. That means you always want to be one step ahead. In order to reach them, you’ll need to make your business incredibly accessible. Create both an online and offline presence. By 2010, women will outnumber men online by more than 8 million. Further define your customers by narrowing it down even more. Where do your consumers live, work, shop, eat? How old are they? You need to be specific in your targeting. After all, [...]

Maybe your business needs to be re-energized, or you need to refocus your vision for the company of your dreams. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources that can guide you through the process. But first, you have to know what you want and where you’re going. Create a vision statement! A vision statement, or road map for your brand, is basically a game plan. In one or two sentences, you can define your goals in a way that everybody understands and embraces. Determine a few words that embody what your business is about. I call them essence words, and they can help you craft a clear, well-defined vision statement. After that’s accomplished, get started on a business plan! Check out Life Lesson Nine in Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs for a strategy map and RealYouIncorporated.com for vision boards.

Today is the day to let your imagination run wild and allow your inner child come to life. Reminiscing about the past is the best place to start! Remember the good old days of pillow cases full of candy corn, Mary Janes, Clark bars, candy buttons and Bit-O-Honeys? I miss those days. One of my most memorable Halloween moments is when I dressed up as a Freudian slip, and I have always loved Trick-or-Treating with the kids. What are some of your favorite Halloween memories? Feel free to share. I love hearing your stories! Do you know:How much candy is purchase annually in the U.S.? What is the most popular candy in America? Where the concept of the Jack-O-Lantern originated? Check out my Happy Halloween – Traditions and Memories podcast to find out!