Scholarship and Awards Opportunity in Manitowoc

The Manitowoc Chapter of Women in Management Announces that applications are available for:

Scholarship 

&

Professional Woman of the Year

MANITOWOC, Wis.—Manitowoc Chapter of Women In Management, Inc. announces that application and nomination forms for WIMI’s Manitowoc Chapter Professional Woman of the Year Award and College Scholarship are now available. Forms can be downloaded from the WIMI website: (www.wimiwi.org) or can be obtained via e-mail request: manitowocwimi@gmail.com

The Professional Woman of the Year Award recognizes a professional woman who has made significant contributions to her company, employees and community. The award recipient will receive a complimentary one-year membership to the Manitowoc Chapter of WIMI.

The WIMI scholarship will be awarded to a female college student aspiring to a post-secondary professional, managerial, or entrepreneurial career. Applicants must have completed at least their first year of college with the intention of obtaining a degree. Preference will be given to applicants attending college in Manitowoc County, but those who reside in Manitowoc County, or who have graduated from a Manitowoc County High School will also be considered. Financial need, academic performance, community and extracurricular involvement will be considered. The top applicants may be asked to participate in an interview to determine the scholarship winner.

Applicants to the award and the scholarship are due April 1^st 2013. Recipients will be recognized at the May 14^th 2013 chapter meeting held at the Holiday Inn (4601 Calumet St. Manitowoc) starting at 11:30am.

Any questions can be directed to Teresa Satori, Awards and Partnership Chair: 920.684.1891 or via email: manitowocwimi@gmail.com

Women in Management, Inc. is not a fund-raising organization. Our objectives are to promote growth and self-development of women through

educational programming, offer support and guidance, and provide women with the opportunity to exchange information, experiences, and ideas.

Facebook Pages - Doing it Right

If you're anything like me, you want to have a Facebook page that is successful. Not because you are hungry for popularity or you want to 'sell something' to every 'friend' per say - but because social media is an important part of company branding and image. I recently read a fabulous article about companies that are doing Facebook and doing it well:

http://www.inc.com/ss/20-best-company-facebook-pages#1

The list includes:
Bare Escentuals
Bonobos
Brendan's Irish Pub
Burt's Bees
Candles Off Main
Clarisonic
Community Coffee
eCycler
Fresh Brothers
Johnny Cupcakes
Mabel's Labels
Old Spice
Red Mango
Skullcandy
SmartPak
Stella & Dot
Steve Spangler Science
Threadless
Tiny Prints
Zappos

Don't reinvent the wheel - if you are looking for your Facebook page to be successful, read through what's working for these companies and see what you can put to work for you. Thanks Inc.com for another great article filled with value and insight! Hopefully you'll see Relax Consulting on this list - but in the meantime, I'm sure you'll agree that these 20 companies deserve the spotlight!

Speak Out Against Bullying and Abuse

Speak Out Against Bullying and Abuse
by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

What would you do if your child came home and told you that someone in their class was being abused or bullied? I bake my worries away, and the first thing I would want to do is pop another chocolate chip in my mouth to give myself some time to think about what to say. The most important thing to do is listen, so whether you pop another chip, or pour yourself a cup of coffee, you should encourage your child to tell you as much about the situation as possible. Once you have the facts as your child knows them, you can make an educated decision about what the next step should be.

I’ll be honest with you, when my daughter came home telling me about one of the smaller boys in her class who was being bullied, my gut reaction was:

·         At least it’s not my kid

·         At least my kid knows it’s not right to treat people like that

·         I hate to get involved, doesn’t sound like this is my fight – maybe I can change the subject

I chatted with friends (some with children and some without) and ultimately ended up at the door of my Pastor. My argument sounded something like this:

“I understand that it would be the right thing to talk to a teacher or guidance counselor, but the next thing you know the bully will be picking on my kid. I don’t want to do what’s right for everyone, I want to do what’s right for MY family. I can’t save the world like I thought I could ten years ago. What’s so wrong with taking the easy road?”

My Pastor reminded me about recent news stories about shootings in schools and pointed out that I have a responsibility as a Christian to do what is for the greater good of my community. He didn’t say that today’s bully would become tomorrow’s murderer – but that’s where my mind went. If I allowed this bully to pick on the little boy, I would be sending a message to the bully that it was okay and to my daughter that it was okay to treat people this way. After some additional talking and some prayer (not to mention sleepless nights), I decided it was time to sit down with my children to talk about bullying and abuse.

Before sitting them down, I figured I better have a pretty good handle on what bullying and abuse is – so I looked it up and here’s the official scoop (thanks Wikipedia):

Bullying is the use of force or coercion to abuse or intimidate others. The behavior can be habitual and involve an imbalance of social or physical power. It can include verbal harassment or threat, physical assault or coercion and may be directed repeatedly towards particular victims, perhaps on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or ability.[2][3] If bullying is done by a group, it is called mobbing. The victim of bullying is sometimes referred to as a "target".

Bullying can be defined in many different ways. The UK currently has no legal definition of bullying,[4] while some U.S. states have laws against it.[5] Bullying consists of three basic types of abuse – emotional, verbal, and physical. It typically involves subtle methods of coercion such as intimidation.

Bullying ranges from simple one-on-one bullying to more complex bullying in which the bully may have one or more "lieutenants" who may seem to be willing to assist the primary bully in his or her bullying activities. Bullying in school and the workplace is also referred to as peer abuse.[6] Robert W. Fuller has analyzed bullying in the context of racism.

Bullying can occur in any context in which human beings interact with each other. This includes school, church, family, the workplace, home, and neighborhoods.

Now that I have all this great information, I am rehearsing what I can say and different scenarios to open up the discussion. The first thing I came up with was a graphic:

I am sharing this graphic through social media to hear how others have dealt with the topic in their families. The following steps seem crucial in combating the problem:

·         Listen Objectively

·         Work With Teachers and Those in Authority

·         Talk to Your Children About Speaking Up

o    and

§  The Importance of Being a Voice for Others

·         Keep Talking and Listening (don’t assume the problem went away)

·         Use All Resources Available to You

o    Ie:

§  http://www.stopbullying.gov/index.html

§  http://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/info-facts.asp

Not saying that we do everything right at our house, but as Pastor reminded me – you can never go wrong when you tell the truth and do the right thing. It isn’t always easy, but it is always worthwhile in the end.

Don’t be afraid to speak out!

Start The New Year With a Business Plan Review

Well, it's 6:23pm here in Wisconsin which means 2013 is right around the corner. I am thinking about what I've learned in the last 12 months and how I can use that information to make 2013 my best year ever. Most of you are probably thinking about your own personal and professional resolutions and goals for the new year. What steps do you need to take to achieve your goals, how are you going to stay on track, what happens if you fall short of your own expectations, etc... A great way to get on track and stay on track for the new year is committing to your business plan. Sit down with your previous plan and make some changes and adjustments based on what has happened since it was written, and then use it as a manual or road map to get you where you need to be by this time next year.

Your business plan likely contains all the necessary sections about long and short range goals, mission and vision statements for the business/organization, competitive analysis, etc...this means you already have what you need to build on. Now the rest is up to you. If your long range goal including growing your business by 32% sit down and strategize about how you can do that and if that was a realistic goal. Consider where you've been spending your marketing money, what groups you're involved in, etc... are you getting a good return on your investment? is it time for a change? should you be more involved?

If you want 2013 to be a repeat of 2012, continue doing what you've been doing with little consideration for the how and why and don't worry about analyzing your returns. If you want 2013 to be your best year ever, set goals that are aligned with your organizational Mission and Vision. As Jim Rohn says: "Either you run the day, or the day runs you." You have the next 365 days to make 2013 your best year ever, run each of those days and you'll achieve your goal!

May your paths be abundantly filled challenges, goals, and support and may 2013 be your best year ever! ~Crystal

Job Search Tips

Are you looking for work, preparing for graduation and getting excited about putting together your cover letter and resume? In the current economy, one thing is for sure, you are NOT alone. Here are some tips that may help you prepare which will increase your confidence. Best of luck in your search - whoever hires you will be glad they did, because YOU are amazing. My dream for you is that your future is as bright as you are.
~Crystal

Finding the RIGHT job is key!

·        If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction.

·        County and State jobs are coveted – know where to find them!

·        Set yourself apart – use the internet differently than the competition.

·        Ask Questions.

·        Do your home work.

If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction. 

o   “________, I’ve heard good things about your company and you seem to like it, right? Who would I talk to about floating my resume?”

o   “________, I haven’t seen anything that Company XYZ is hiring, but do you happen to know anyone in HR you could put me in touch with?”

County and State jobs are coveted – know where to find them!

o   http://agency.governmentjobs.com/manitowoc/default.cfm

o   http://wisc.jobs/public/index.asp

§  Set up your profile and find out what’s out there that may be a dream come true for you!

Set yourself apart – use the internet differently than the competition.

o   Use the Job Center website (http://www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/) have your resume and cover letter ready to go.

o   Have Job Center jobs matched to you and emailed directly to your inbox.

o   If you have a social networking profile, tidy it up a bit…foul language and drinking pics should be taken down – you don’t want to send the wrong message.

o   If you have your resume on multiple sites, make sure it’s the same or similar on each. If you update one, update all of them.

Ask Questions.

? (Before, During, or After the interview it’s important to ask questions. If you aren’t sure what to ask – here are some examples:)
How would you describe the company culture/work environment?

What type of employees tend to excel at this company?

What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?

Can you tell me more about the interview process?

What is your turn over rate for the type of position I am interested in?

What type of training do you offer?

How often do you provide reviews and feedback?

What are the most important skills for the job?

How would you describe your ideal candidate?

What are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?

Do your home work.

o   Most companies have a website with important information about the company and if you’re lucky – information for job seekers.

The Shiny Sparkly Resume!

If a car on a car lot doesn’t look shiny and impressive, you’ll likely drive by without checking the sticker. Your resume works the same way – if your resume doesn’t catch the employers attention you will not get the phone call or the interview much less the job.

Make sure your resume is shiny and sparkling!

Choose Resume Words Carefully / Surpassed vs. Completed

o   Anyone can complete a task – surpassing expectations shows that you went above and beyond. Catch the readers attention and capture interest by using strong words to describe your accomplishments:

Sample Headlines

o   Dedicated ______ professional with ___ years of experience in _______

o   An accomplished _____ professional with proven entrepreneurial success and expertise in ___________

o   Talented _____ professional with over ___ years of experience providing outstanding support to ____________

Sample Qualifications

o   Extensive hands on experience in ______

o   Diverse _ skills with exceptional __ background in _________

o   Fluent understanding and extensive experience managing _____

o   Thrive in deadline-oriented, fast paced situations

Focus on…

o   How you saved the company time or money

o   How you problem solve

o   How you use your creativity

o   How you initiate change and develop others

o   How you use your skills

o   How you work successfully with a team

Submit Your Resume/Application

o   Always read the fine print and submit your resume/application just ask the employer specifies (ie: if they tell you to fax…don’t email – if they request a resume and cover letter, don’t forget the cover letter, etc…)

o   Make sure your resume is short and sweet, to the point, and impressive!

Follow Up

o   Follow up with a phone call or a card (yes, the kind you mail…set yourself apart)

§  The follow up should be short and sweet – if you send a card, it could say: Thank you for considering me for the _____ position with company XYZ; I am looking forward to meeting with you. Please call me at ____ and we can schedule a phone interview or face to face meeting.

Prepare for the Interview

·        Make your list of traits, skills, and abilities

·        Story Format

o   Stories Should…

§  Describe a challenging situation

§  Describe a difficult decision

§  Describe your strengths

§  Describe your successes

§  Describe your weaknesses

§  Describe a time when the result was not what you planned for

Don’t Forget to Ask Questions?

·        When the potential new employer asks: “Do you have any questions?” your answer should always be a quick “yes” – and go back to those questions you had ready during the job search:

THANK YOU!

o   The potential new employer will thank you – but be sure to thank them for their time too. Then…follow up with a thank you card (yes the kind you mail – it will set you apart from other applicants)

It's The Most Charitable Time Of The Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year

With the kids jingle-belling

And everyone telling you

Be of good cheer

It's the most wonderful time of the year

...or has it become...                the most CHARITABLE time of the year?                

As a business owner, this is the time of year that your mailbox and inbox is flooded with requests for charitable donations. Veterans with small children who have no where to live, children whose fathers are in prison whose mothers have no money to afford presents, elderly people alone in nursing homes without family to visit, animals found abused or neglected, and the list goes on and on. Your employees come to you asking if you're able to throw a few dollars toward their favorite charity, bell ringers at the door of your favorite grocery store, and your heart goes out to each charity and individual. The question is...

How do you decide which charity you will donate to? How much will you donate?

Of course, your initial reaction is to give a little something to every one. Each story tugs at your heart strings and compels you to open your wallet. And then you realize that the wallet is empty and there are still more requests. Now, what do you do? If you say no, you feel like you've failed someone. Is the Veteran more worthy of a donation than the child who has holes in his shoes? Where is the line? Or...have you already heard these horror stories from other professionals and business owners and instead of drawing the line, you simply say 'NO' to every one right from the start?

Do you write a policy to help you next year? Do you appoint a team and a process to ensure fairness and equality?

No one wants to be a Scrooge, but business is business. The following suggestions may help you move forward in a way that allows for charitable giving, but also allows you to say no and keep some money in the bank:

1) Set a Budget - decide how much you will spend annually on charities and stick with it.

2) Do Your Homework - learn about how organizations use the money. You don't want your money going to an organization where pennies on the dollar actually make it to help the cause. Determine if you want to choose worldwide organizations, local organization, or both.

3) Be Fair - you don't want to give $5,000 to one organization and $5 to the other. Your budget process may allot for a certain percent going to local charities and a different percent to worldwide charities. Set a minimum and maximum amount, use matching funds with a limit, or limit the number of organizations you will contribute to each year. If you limit the number of organizations, you may want to look at your own mission and/or vision statement and make sure that you are aligning your business with a charitable organization that has a similar mission/vision or at least one that is not contrary to where your business is headed.

4) Share the Responsibility - engage others in your organization. Let them choose the recipients. Asking for the input of others will relieve some of your stress and will all but eliminate the perception that the company only gives to your 'pet projects'.

5) Set  Expectations - Have a form or process. There are things you want to know about the charity or organization you are giving to. You wouldn't just hand a $500 check to someone knocking at the door, so be prepared - when they do knock, ask them to complete your form and provide the information that is importation to you (ie: how long has the charity/organization been around, who determines how my money is used, does the money stay local, etc...)

6) Let Others Know - Let others in your organization know how the charitable giving process works at your company. This will eliminate those emails that tug at your heart strings. If an employee learns of a worthy cause, they will know how to get their cause on the list for consideration. They shouldn't feel like you are being unfair, you are simply following the rules of the company. This helps your employees look smart too - if they are approached on Thanksgiving day by a well meaning friend or family member, they can respond "our company does give to different organizations each year, it's too late to get on the list for this year, but I can pass the information along for consideration next year" (the employee looks good, you look good, and the company looks good)!


What works for you? What have you done in the past? Have you tried any of the techniques listed above? We want your feedback - now and always!

And don't worry, we know - it really is, THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Social Media and Friends

A personal and professional friend recently posted the following on Facebook:

How to start an argument on facebook:
1. Post your opinion....on anything.
2. Wait
3. Stir
4. Start typing in all CAPS to raise your voice.

This got me thinking...and I replied with the following:

Doesn't it make you wonder about the level of friendship you have with your Facebook friends? Do you know what I mean? If you were at lunch with a group of friends (which is how people once exchanged ideas before social media, right?) and you expressed an opinion about something, there would be chit chat and friendly conversing and it was unusual for anyone to get bent out of shape, raise their voice, or get offended. I don't know if social media makes it that difficult to communicate, or if we are simply extending our circle of friends to include so many people that we have confused the definition of a friend. friend (frnd)
n.
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.

What are your thoughts? Are we going to far to be people pleasers? Do we accept friend requests because we want to have as many (or more) friends as some of the people in our 'circle'? Are we afraid to post what's on our mind because we don't want to offend someone?

Weigh in...there's no right or wrong answers - how are you feeling about social media and your circle of friends? Where do you see things five years from now?

~Crystal