Branding Your Vision - Bonnie Ross-Parker by Stephanie Harper

CAREER Magazine | September / October 2010 | 2

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

CAREER Magazine a StephanieHarper.com Publication

CONTRIBUTORS Kimberly A. Benjamin, , Pamela Burks, Pamela Byrd, Stephanie C. Harper, Carol Haynes, Courtney A. Hammonds, Traci Morgan, Biba Pedron, Reginald Brown, Ted Moss, Christopher Williams, Jim Stroud, Otis Collier, Niakesha Woodley, Andretta Greer, Tia Goodwin, Lucinda Cross, Treivor Branch, Vaneese Johnson , Thommi Odom and Pam Perry.

HUMAN RESOURCES and ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY for STEP Enterprises, Inc. President and CEO | Stephanie C. Harper, PHR, CCP, CHRM Assistant to the President and CEO | Pamela Murphy VP, CAREER Events | Niakesha Woodley, MHRD VP Strategic Alliances | Frank Aikens Marketing Director | Anetra Henry-Hunting Creative Consultant | Chantony Marshall Sales | Cameo Clark, Sunny Slaughter, Andretta Greer

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CAREER Magazine | November/ December | 4

CM's Publisher talks with Bonnie Ross-Parker, about "Branding Your Vision". Bonnies shares her strenghts to branding is having laser focus and why it's critical for others to ‘buy into what you offer’, why you have to be really clear on what that is, and what you’re providing, as well as your level of commitment and support. Her belief, "to brand a vision is to be unwavering in protecting what you’ve established and insuring that others respect and appreciate having the opportunity to carry forth something that has stood the test of time. And most importantly, quitting is NEVER an option!" 4 EDITORIAL PAGE Meet CAREER Magazine 6 PUBLISHER'S PERSPECTIVE The Value of Vision. By Stephanie C. Harper, PHR 7 PUBLISHER'S PAGE CAREER Magazine TV is coming 8 YOUR VOICE IN PRINT Reflections and Reactions Movers and Shakers Under 40 9 BLACK AND WHITE TERMS Branding 10 CAREER MAKEOVER Ways to Save Money While Launching your Business By Tai Goodwin 12 SPOTLING ON SUCCESS Meet Justn M. Boyd 14 HR NEWS 20 Interview Questions and Answers By Stephanie C. Harper, PHR 17 ASK THE EXPERT / Q&A Why do Employers play games? How do you get Employers to respond ?

24 CAREERS AND CHRIST Who's Buying Your Brand? By Stephanie C. Harper 26 FAITH FACTS Interesting Facts and Findings

31 CORPORATE MOM DROPOUTS No Boundries Equals No respect By Lucinda Cross 33 I LIVE ONLINE Unemployment Numbers You Need to Know By Jim Stroud

26 FAVOR FOR YOUR LIFE It's Not An Accident, It's By Design By Pastor Reginald Brown 27 CAREER TIPS Tips to Take With You By Stephanie C. Harper 5 Reasons Job Seekers Are Disqualified By Carol Haynes 28 MOMENTS OF MOTIVATION How to Keep Your Job Search Jolly By Thommi Odom 29 ENCOURAGEMENT EDGE The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus (Book Excerpt) 30 WORKPLACE AND CAREER SUCCESS Brand You: From the Pavement to the Corner Office By Treivor Branch, MSP, CPC

34 BOOKS ARE A BUSINESS (Author's Corner) Turn Your Book INTO a Business By Stephanie C. Harper, PHR 36 COMPENSATION CORNER Got Benefits? By Carol Haynes 37 MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS Visibility Gives YOU Credibility By Pam Perry

CAREER Magazine (a StephanieHarper.com Publication) is a green publication written by career industry professionals for job seekers (employees, employers and entrepreneurs. Published bi-monthly, no part of CAREER Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the Publisher. The opinions expressed by our contributors are not necessarily those of the Publisher. All articles are intellectual property of CAREER Magazine and/or its contributors. All rights reserved. Copyright 20082010.

CAREER Magazine | November/ December | 5

Publisher's Perspective

relative worth, merit, or importance

a vivid, imaginative conception

Wow! With each issue, I save this page for last it serves as a time to reflect on the issue. I must admit with this issue I am overwhelmed....for many reasons! A few of those reasons are: CAREER Magazine has completed another year of production, we have expanded our audience to include readership in Internationally, we have some awesome contributors who have made the quality of the publication 1000 times better, we just celebrated five years of our radio broadcast (10/16/2010), and we have begun production of CAREER Magazine Live (our TV Show, coming early 2011). Many of you reading have had a chance to grow with me as my career transitioned from human resources professional, to author, to speaker, to radio host, to career expert and of course chief executive over CAREER Magazine. Few of you know that my road to success actually came while in a very low valley in my life. Everything that could have gone wrong for me - - DID! I could have given up, but I held strong to my faith when I had nothing else to hold onto. My favorite Scripture is found in 1st Peter 5:10 “After you suffer a while, then you will be established, strengthened, settled and perfected.” A few years ago, I reached that point where I finally understood that EVERYTHING that I go through is FOR MY GOOD! So even when the circumstances around me appear to be going against what I desire. I simply look at them, smile and say, “I’m not moved by what I see, I am only moved by the Word of God!” It is this mindset, that allows me to remain focused on the future more than I focus on the present. The present is wonderful, but having vision to see the future is SPECTACULAR! I’ve learned to e thankful for what I have, what I’ve accomplished and more importantly to value what is to come. Operation Vision allows me to convey to myself and my staff that this is good, BUT the best is yet to come. A very special thanks to Bonnie Ross-Parker, for allowing us to glean from you this issue. The information you shared is invaluable. Application of the information is a must, but it's great to know that if we try we can obtain what we desire. To the FANTABULOUS CM Contributors....wow, you guys and gals are the very best, I could not ask for a more dedicated team to help bring my vision to reality. I am forever grateful. To the "FAN"TABULOUS CM Readership, you guys ROCK! Thanks for your support and thanks for your input. CM is what it has become because of you. We appreciate your continued support! Merry CHRISTmas, Happy Holidays and Have a Happy New Year! VALUING VISION,

Stephanie C. Harper-Haynes, PHR, CCP, CHRM Certified Human Resources Professional Author, Career Expert, Speaker, Radio Host Editor-in-Chief, CAREER Magazine (www.TheCareerMag.com) CAREER Magazine | November/ December | 6

Publisher's Page

CAREER Magazine | November/ December | 7

Your Voice In Print

CAREER POWER

ASK THE EXPERT

Power Team! Powerful Publication! Thanks for including a new section. I Powerful Information! Powerful have emailed many "experts" and Cover Story! Thanks for sharing! never hear from them. I'm glad you are answering your readers. It's lets S. Glenn, Villa Rica, GA us know you care!

CAREER MOVES

FABULOUS UNDER 40! CAREER Magazine gets it! Everyone doesn’t live the celebrity life to be successful and I want to thank you so much for showcasing “regular people” to give those of us who are still striving hope. It’s nice to know you don’t have to have to be a star for others to recognize your contributions. I was so very happy to read success stories about “my neighbor next door”. Another great issue - - Great job! D. Sulantry, Wilmington, NC

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CM keeps each issue fresh and relevant. I loved your feature on those under 40! I watched my parents work so hard and still not achieve all of their goals. Thanks for letting us know it doesnt take a lifetime to be happy. Keep moving and shaking Heratio S. , Atlanta, GA

I really enjoyed reading "Is moving into management your next best career move?" So often we think that is the ticket to job security, but moving into a position before we are really ready can actually be a deal breaker for future possibilities. I am ready to have more responsiblity, but I never thought about having to transition from "friend to boss" and truthfully I believe that would be a challenge. I know that management is my future, but not in my current environment. Timing is everything! B. Carrolle, Mobile, AL

BULLIES AT WORK

A. McRae, Pomona, CA

BOOKS ARE A BUSINESS Thank you for starting the Authors Corner. The publishing info you shared is very useful to aspiring authors as myself. I am looking forward to learning more about publishing and I hope to see my books in print very soon. Thanks. L. Bernard , Las Vegas, NV

YES, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

How timely! While people are focusing on bullies on the campus, Due to the overwhelming amount of no one is tackling the bully at emails that we receive, we are work. Thank you for such a great unable to respond to email editorial. I survived a toxic boss, but endured years of being personally, but will do our best to bullying before he moved on. I include your comments. If you have used to think "now he is someone a comment, questions or an one else's problem", but bullying is really everyone's problem. The observation, please emails us effects are devestating. Thanks yourvoiceinprint@thecareermag.com for the tips. Howard, R. , Greenville, SC

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 8

In Black and White Terms

BRANDING

BRAND

(according to wikipedia.com)

A brand is the identity of a specific product, service, or business. A brand can take many forms, including a name, sign, symbol, color combination or slogan. The word brand began simply as a way to tell one person's cattle from another by means of a hot iron stamp. A legally protected brand name is called a trademark. The word brand has continued to evolve to encompass identity - it affects the personality of a product, company or service. · · · · · · · ·

BRAND, a name, logo, slogan, and/or design scheme associated with a product or service BRAND MANAGEMENT, the application of marketing techniques to a specific product, product line, or brand EMPLOYER BRANDING, the application of brand management to recruitment marketing and internal brand engagement NATIONAL BRAND the application of marketing techniques for the advancement of a country PERSONAL BRANDING people and their careers marketed as brands CO BRANDING, associates a single product or service with more than one brand name BRAND AGENCY, a type of marketing agency which specializes in creating brands FAITH BRANDING, the application of marketing techniques to religious institutions or individuals

CAREER Magazine | November/ Decemb 2010 | 9

Career Makeover

WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHILE LANCHING YOUR BUSINESS By Tai Goodwin

CareerMakeoverCoach.com

When it comes to launching your business, your most critical resources are time and money. Any book on launching a business will outline the need for long term saving – making sure you have money to live on and to cover expenses for at least the first year of being a full-time business owner. Here’s a sneak peak of some tips that you can start today to help generate money you can invest in your business or add to your savings account. 1. Hire Your Kids. If you own your own business, you can hire your family members – including young children – at a “normal” wage. And not only is their pay tax-deductible for you, you can also count their wages against many costs associated with their care and upbringing. Sound too good to be true? Make sure to check it out first – tax laws change frequently, but it’s worth looking into. 2. Get Your Full Tax Write-Offs. Speaking of taxes, are you writing off everything that’s associated with your home-based business? Are you remembering to include office space, cleaning, utilities, phone lines, computers, office supplies, training, and education, just to name a few? Depending on your industry, your write-offs can even include things like your car, dining out, travel, books, and more. Check with your accountant or tax preparer for more information. 3. Be Conservative on Technology Investments. With new techno-gadgets coming out daily, we can feel like we need the latest iPhone, iPad, computer, laptop, speakers, microphone, and carrying bag to drag all of it around in. But do you really? In most cases, we give up on our technology before IT gives up on us. Lastly, while an extended warranty on your gadgets may sound like a good idea, remember; they wouldn’t be pushing it so hard if it weren’t making them money. The truth is, if a manufacturer doesn’t stand behind their product, believe in their product, without charging you for a warranty, you may want to look into buying a different product. 4. Go for Non-Print Advertising. When was the last time you picked up the phone book and let your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages to look for a business or phone number? Wait, do you even have a phone book right now? For most businesses, print advertising is a thing of the past. The hundreds you spend on Yellow Pages and print ads in the newspaper can be pocketed instead of thrown away. Instead, turn your dollars – and your efforts – towards online and offline networking. For the price of one print ad, you can sponsor a MeetUp.com group or event, host a Chamber of Commerce mixer, or give away some awesome prizes to an online contest in your niche. Now THAT’S advertising! 5. Barter for Business. Swapping isn’t just for flea markets! Trade your internet marketing know-how for your CPA’s tax-prep services, or offer your top-notch editing services in exchange for printing at the local copy shop. Trimming cash purchases is the reason so many business people are swapping their services. Also, swapping products and services is a great way to network, create business relationships, and save money, too. Many local business organizations and Chambers of Commerce have directories of members open to swapping. CAREER Magazine | November/ Decemb 2010 | 10

Business Owner Bootcamp

RECOGNITION EXPOSURE CREDIBILITY NETWORKING By Ted Moss, CCP CrimCheck.com

NOMINATONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED www.thecareermag.com/whoswho CAREER Magazine | November/ Decemb 2010 | 11

SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

Adrenaline packed, meticulously built, professionally woven, and systematically devoted to one cause, and that is being the best at what he does. From airport to airport, hotel to hotel his delivery is simply impeccable. Audition after audition. Justin M. Boyd has been named the face of the future, and Americas next African American Breakout star from agents, and casting directors across the globe. Mr. Boyd has been featured in hit projects such as “One Tree Hill”, Walker Texas Ranger, and Blood Done Signed My Name to name a few. Which has ignited a fire within him to stop at nothing until his greatest goal of all is achieved, and that is to be the box office star God has destined for him to become. Being quick on his feet is an understatement when you face off with Mr. Boyd. An Improvist at heart and God-Fearing man at spirit Mr. Boyd will continue to open, unlock, and break down barriers that the world said could not be done. Justin M. Boyd plans to reach out to Producers, Casting Directors, and other executives in the film industry to hone his craft, and display to the world his passion. When asked why does he go so hard, and constantly picks himself right back up when the odds are against him…His answer is simple, “God didn’t give up on me, and I refuse to give up on him”. One word describes this humble North Carolina Native and that is “Serious”. Mr. Boyd has proved to himself, and to the world, that there is nothing that he cannot accomplish. From featured actor to film Lead in numerous projects the flood gates are truly opening. For live footage and upcoming projects from Justin M. Boyd please click on the website link below or you may also reach his management team via email at info@JustinBoydOnline.com.

JUSTIN

www.JustinBoydOnline.com CAREER Magazine |November/ December 2010 | 12

Spotlight ADVERTISEMENT

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 13

HR News

QA Interview Questions &

20 &

By Stephanie C. Harper, PHR 1- Tell me about yourself. One of the most asked questions in an interview. It breaks the ice and gets you to talk about something you should be fairly comfortable with. However, this question is not about your personal life. Keep your answers professionally based. Stick to your education, career and current situation. Work through it chronologically from present and furthest. 2- Why are you looking for another job (or why did you leave your previous job)? On the surface this appears to be a simple question, yet it is easy to slip. If you are currently employed hone in on “developing your career and yourself as an individual”. If you unemployed or recently downsized, stay positive and keep it brief. If you were fired you should have a solid explanation. Whatever your circumstances do not go into the drama and detail and stay positive. 3- What do you know about this organization? Do your homework prior to the interview. Doing the background work will help you stand out. Find out who the main players are, have they been in the news recently? You’re not expected to know every date or detail but you need to have a solid understanding of the company as a whole and who their competitors are. 4- Why do you want this job? This questions typically follows on from the previous one. Here is where your research will come in handy. You may want to say that you want to work for a company that is x, y, z, (market leader, innovator, provides a vital service, whatever it may be). Put some thought into this beforehand, be specific and link the company’s values and mission statement to your own goals and career plans. (you can get this info from their website). 5- Who are our main competitors? This shows you really understand the industry and the main players. Think about a few and say how you think they compare; similarities, differences. This is a good opportunity to highlight what you think are the company’s key strengths are and how you may be able to add to it. 6- What would your previous co-workers say about you? This is not the arena for full disclosure. You want to stay positive and add a few specific statements or paraphrase. Something like “Joe Blogs always mentioned how reliable and hard working I was” is enough. 7- How do you handle stressful situations and working under pressure? There are several ways of addressing this one. You may be the sort of person that works well under pressure; you may even thrive under pressure. Whatever the case may be just make sure you don’t say you panic. You want to give specific examples of stressful situations and how well you dealt with them. You may also want to list a few tools you use to help you, such as to do lists etc. It is alright to say that if you feel you are way over your head you will ask for assistance. It is equally acceptable to say that you work best under pressure if this is indeed the case and relevant to the particular role.

CAREER Magazine |November/ Decemb 2010 | 14

20 Interview Questions & Answers Continued

8- Are you applying for other jobs? If you are serious about changing jobs then it is likely that you are applying to other positions. It is also a way of showing that you are in demand. Be honest but don’t go into too much detail, you don’t want to spend a great deal of time on this. If asked about names of who you have spoken to it is absolutely legitimate to say you prefer not to disclose that information at this stage. 9- What are you like working in a team? Your answer is of course that you are an excellent team player; there really is no other valid answer here as you will not function in an organization as a loner. You may want to mention what type of role you tend to adopt in a team, especially if you want to emphasis key skills such as leadership. Be prepared to give specific examples in a very matter of fact sort of way. 10- What sort of person do you not like to work with? This is not an easy one as you have no idea whom you would be working with. Even if you can immediately think of a long list of people you don’t like to work with, you could take some time to think and say that it’s a 11- What is your greatest strength? This is your time to shine. Just remember the interviewer is looking for work related strengths. Mention a number of them such as being a good motivator, problem solver, performing well under pressure, loyal, positive attitude, eager to learn, taking the initiative, attention to detail. Whichever you go for, be prepared to give examples that illustrate this particular skill. 12- What is your biggest weakness? A challenging one, as if you so you have no weaknesses you are obviously lying! Be realistic and mention a small work related flaw. Many people will suggest answering this using a positive trait disguised as a flaw such as “I’m a perfectionist” or “I expect others to be as committed as I am”. I would advocate a certain degree of honesty and list a true weakness. Emphasize what you’ve done to overcome it and improve. This question is all about how you perceive and evaluate yourself. 13- What has been your biggest professional disappointment/achievement so far? If asked about disappointments mention something that was beyond your control. Stay positive by showing how you accepted the situation and have no lingering negative feelings. If asked about your greatest achievement chose an example that was important to you as well as the company. Specify what you did, how you did it and what the results were. Ideally pick an example that can relate to the positions you are applying for. 14- What kind of decisions do you find most difficult to take? There is no right or wrong here. The logic behind this type of question is that your past behavior is likely to predict what you will do in the future. What the interviewer is looking for is to understand what you find difficult. 15- Tell me about a suggestion that you have made that has been successfully implemented. Here the emphasis is on the implemented. You may have had many brilliant ideas, but what the interview is looking for is something that has actually materialized. Be prepared to briefly describe how it went from an idea to implementation stage. CAREER Magazine |November/ Decemb 2010 | 15

20 Interview Questions & Answers Continued

16- Have you ever had to bend the rules in order to achieve a goal? Beware of this type of question! Under no circumstances is it necessary to break company policy to achieve something. Resist the temptation to answer and give examples, as what the interviewer is looking for is to determine how ethical you are and if you will remain true to company policy. 17- Are you willing to travel or relocate if necessary? This is something you need to have very clear in your mind prior to the meeting, if you think there is any chance this may come up. There is no point in saying yes just to get the job if the real answer is actually no. Just be honest as this can save you problems arising in the future. 18- Why should we hire you? This is an important question that you will need to answer carefully. It is your chance to stand out and draw attention to your skills, especially those that haven’t already been addressed. Saying “because I need a job” or “I’m really good” just won’t cut it. Don’t speculate about other candidates and their possible strengths or flaws. Make sure you focus on you. Explain why you make a good employee, why you are a good fit for the job and the company and what you can offer. Keep it succinct and highlight your achievements. 19- Regarding salary, what are your expectations? Always a tricky one and a dangerous game to play in an interview. It is a common mistake to discuss salary before you have sold yourself and like in any negotiation knowledge is power. Do your homework and make sure you have an idea of what this job is offering. You can try asking them what the salary range. If you want to avoid the question altogether you could say that at the moment you are looking to advance in your career and money isn’t your main motivator. If you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident you can get it, then it may be worth going for it. 20- Do you have any questions for us? This one tends to come up every time. Have some questions prepared. This will show you have done some research and are eager to know and learn as much as possible. You probably don’t want to ask more than 3 or 4 questions. Try and use questions that focus on you becoming an asset to the company. A generic one might be “how soon can I start if I were to get the job”. Another idea is to ask what you would be working on and how quickly they expect you to be able to be productive. Remember to ask about next steps and when you can expect to hear back.

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 15

Ask the Expert

Q & A with Stephanie C. Harper, PHR, CCP, CHRM

Dear Ms. Harper,

I have been searching for a job for quite sometime and I am really getting discouragesd. What irritates me more than not finding a job is the game s that hiring managers play. Why do they put you through all the motions if they know they are not going to hire you anyway? ~ M. Solomon, Chicago, IL

Wow! It's really hard to give you an absolute answer because there are so many variables to consider. The first thing that comes to minds as I read your questions are as follows: Are you qualified for the postition?, Is there any thing in your background that is preventing you from being hired?, How well are you interviewing?., What are your references saying about you? These are all areas that are unclear to me, but one thing that is crystal clear is your frustration ! The hirring process is far too expensive to "play games". When you consider the total cost factor (advertising, recruiting, sourcing, interviewing, background checks, etc.), it is very costly to make a hire so employers are pulling out all the stops for potential hires. The reality is 40% of job seekers remain unemployed because they dont match up to the employers expectation for various reasons. My suggestion would be to make contact with the last few employers with whom you interviewed and ask for feedback. Take the feedback constructively and hang in there....you're a perfect fit for the perfect employer! ~ Stephanie

Dear Ms. Harper,

Most of the articles I read about job seeking say to follow up with employers. I make the effort to do that, but they never return my calls - - even after the interview. What tips do you have on getting an employer to respond to you . Isn't there some HR rule that suggests a courtesy call ? M. Mc Falls, Durham, NC

A. Let me start by answering your

last question first. No, there is no "HR Rule" that indicates an employer MUST call a job seeker. It is however a best practice to make contact with job seekers in which you've had LIVE CONTACT WITH (via email, by phone or face to face interview), once the decision has been made to go with another candidate, in my office we refer to it as a "courtesy contact" , even if it's just an email or post cards to say "thanks, but no thanks!". I've heard this complaint far too many times in my line of work and must say therein lies the difference between the " HR Professional" and the "person who works in HR". As for tips for getting the employer to respond to you. Always ask when would be the best time to follow up regarding the position and make sure to make contact at the suggested time. Remind them, per our conversation on {date}, you asked that I follow up on today and ask for a courtesty call to let you know where they are in the process or if they have gone with another candidate. Often, we have not because we ask not. The key is to NOT sit and wait for the employer to respond to you, but for you to be proactive in contacting the employer. Don't be a pest, but do be persistent. ~ Stephanie

I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions to Publisher@TheCareerMag.com CAREER Magazine | November/ Decemb 2010 | 17

Cover Story

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 18

Cover Story

CM: Greetings Bonnie thank you for taking the time to share with the readers CAREER Magazine. Tell us, “Who is Bonnie Ross-Parker?” BRP: I often refer to myself as a multi-dimensional entrepreneur because I’ve been involved in so many different ventures – franchising, network marketing, community development, publishing, speaking and of course, my signature networking venue The Joy of Connecting. I’m a woman on a mission to encourage, support and serve my female colleagues on their own journey toward well-being and financial success. A dear friend coined the expression, “America’s Connection Diva” so I decided to embrace this as my professional tag line! CM: One of your signature trademarks is cowboy boots, what’s the “Bootgirl” story / how did she come to be. BRP: When my husband and I first started dating, I was uncomfortable in wearing high heels because we both are the same height. While I tried flat shoes, it’s really not attractive on a woman with long legs. Phil often wore cowboy boots – very low heal – so I decided to give my new look a try. That was 21+ years ago and guess what? I’m still wearing them every day to this day. My grandkids call me ‘Nana Boots’ and I often introduce myself at speaking engagements in the following way: “My name is Bonnie Ross-Parker – a silver haired grandmother who always wears cowboy boots.” CM: You have been recognized as a leader in your community. Leadership is one of the most misunderstood concepts in business. Many think it is a position or title. Here at CAREER Magazine, we feel that leadership is not a title, but an action. How do you describe Leadership? BRP: Leadership – Lead her ship. For me, leadership is about responsibility – about setting a standard of excellence that instills in others an urgency to be the best they can be. I’m very aware that in my position as the CEO/Founder of a large organization, many times I’m ‘under the microscope’. What am I saying and doing that can inspire, motivate and encourage improved performance? What impression/imprint am I leaving that sheds positive light? I often say, “Leave positive, indelible imprints everywhere you go and in everything you do. Then you never look back w/regret or need to ‘re-do’ what could’ve been handled differently in the first place.” Lead – her - ship for me is my willingness to create relationships that are not about who is in charge, but rather, how do we work together, collaboratively for the greater good?

CM: How did you transition from School Teacher to Entrepreneur? BRP: Actually, it was a major health set back that gave me the time needed to re-evaluate and re-design the direction of my professional career. I was raised in an entrepreneurial household. In the early 40s, with a $500 investment, my dad began a business that resulted many decades later in a multi-million dollar enterprise. In a way, I followed in his footsteps. When I left teaching in 1983, I choose to focus on something I could begin, create and develop that would provide financial independence, personal growth and achievement. A small ad in a local newspaper peeked my interest and I decided to step out in faith to become a Franchise Developer for an emerging company that later became known worldwide. I was not an employee, but rather, an independent consultant with dual responsibility to expand the franchise and provide all training and support. CM: One of the amazing things we find amazing about you is that found a “big break” during a difficult time. What happened at 39, that changed and charted a new course for you? BRP: As I alluded to previously, an emergency hysterectomy turned out to be a blessing! It provided me the opportunity to take a year’s sabbatical from teaching, re-think what I wanted to do and pushed me to a new and challenging career. I never looked back because of the growth I experienced over the next 12 years – from ’83 to ’95. When the year was up and I got a letter from the school system ‘inviting me back’, I had actually forgotten that was an option! I had created 28 franchises of which I personally owned 6! CM: Your brand is “The Joy of Connecting®” what was your vision for JOC how did it become a brand? CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 19

Cover Story

BRP: In the networking arena, most activity centers around pushing business cards. “Here’s my card if you ever need my service(s).” It’s impersonal, self-serving and ineffective! Over the last 15+ years, my efforts have focused on supporting women. Women are all about ‘connecting’. Our conversations, our willingness to reach out and our overall commitment to be available to one another I thing stems from a need our gender has for community. It is a joy to connect. Connecting – really connecting – is joyful. Honestly, at the time I created my organization, The Joy of Connecting®, I didn’t think of it as establishing a brand! That developed over time with women loving the nurturing, warm environment that fostered and encouraged connection. CM: You have the tagline of marketing with heart. How does one market with the heart? BRP: “Heart” has the word “hear” in it. Marketing with heart is about listening to one another, learning from one another and being focused more in what someone else has to say and offer than meeting your own agenda. When you market in this way, you really care to give someone your attention, to hear what is being expressed and in doing so, you increase your value! People will strengthen relationships and do business with individuals they trust and who exhibit a caring, servant attitude. When you add heart to your marketing efforts, you differentiate yourself from everyone else who put themselves and their needs first. CM: How did you take the JOC event and turn it into a licensed program? BRP: Sometimes situations progress in ways you didn’t imagine! After about a year of offering The Joy of Connecting®, I was visiting with a wonderful friend, Susan Gooding-Stewart. Susan had been attending my JOC regularly and during this particular time together, she shared a vision she had that The Joy of Connecting should be offered to women in other communities, not just in my home. I really hadn’t considered expanding it! Up until that point, I had found inviting women to share with one another in the comfort of my home rewarding and manageable! That being said, her idea of my expanding JOC felt both exciting and challenging! After all, my background was franchising! I knew how to support multiple locations and had a very successful track record. It wasn’t long afterward that laying the groundwork to establish JOC throughout Atlanta became my focus. CM: Part of the JOC program includes licensing. How do you get others to buy into your brand (license JOC) without trying to simply duplicate your efforts. BRP: I consulted with an attorney who was extremely helpful throughout the process. I knew that to be successful, I had to insure the integrity of The Joy of Connecting brand – it’s trademark, process, format, etc. I established my corporation, The Joy of Connecting, LLC and took the time necessary to create The JOC agreement. This included fees, what a licensee could expect of me, outlined her responsibilities, out clause, etc. Because I took this step seriously, I established CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 20

Cover Story

a strong following. Once finalizing the document, I invited a small group of my regulars (10 women) to my home, outlined my plan and gave each of them the right (at a reduced rate) to step up and become my founding group of licensees. Within 6 weeks, I had 10 confirmed locations. Imagine my excitement! Over the course of the last 8 years, I’ve implemented changes to the agreement, increased training and support and added other enhancements. As to the format, it has remained consistent with when I first offered it on August 21st, 2002! CM: You have been successful at sharing your vision with others and gaining their support to expand your JOC Brand. What is the key to Branding a Vision? BRP: One of my strengths is laser focus. I think it’s critical that for others to ‘buy into what you offer’, you have to be really clear on what that is, what you’re providing, your level of commitment and support. To brand a vision is to be unwavering in protecting what you’ve established and insuring that others respect and appreciate having the opportunity to carry forth something that has stood the test of time. There are thousands of organizations for women. We all have multiple choices on where to go and what money we want to spend to build our respective businesses. By staying the course, insuring that JOC is consistent in the use of its logo and format, the vision has been established as a brand. This takes time. It doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a well prepared plan, continuous monitoring and loving care. When women participate at The Joy of Connecting, I want them to have the same wonderful experience regardless of which one they attend. CM: What does the future hold for JOC? BRP: As more women become frustrated and disillusioned in their corporate life, they are discovering the unlimited possibilities of entrepreneurship! You may work harder, (I certainly work longer hours now than when I was teaching or building my franchise community) however, the satisfaction and personal growth outweigh the time involved. This is great news for The Joy of Connecting®. Women who are serious about growing their business and want to work with a proven, innovative system that insures increasing one’s data base, strengthening relationships and can foster financial independence have the opportunity to explore the benefits of The Joy of Connecting as their primary marketing tool. JOC is an affordable system, easily duplicated and provides all the training and support necessary to insure success. We are now in momentum phase with women finding out about JOC and wanting what we have. This is a very exciting time for us. The more locations we establish nationwide, the greater our reach. The greater our reach – the more women who will be impacted by our community. Many have referred to The Joy of Connecting® as a ‘Ministry for Women’. Some have said, ‘JOC is Marketing with Heart and with Purpose’. The Joy of Connecting® community is positioned for massive growth throughout 2011 and we are ready and eager to serve women everywhere. (In 2009, we launched The Latina Joy of Connecting® and anticipate its expansion next year as well. By offering a Hispanic version of the site, we’re encouraging our collective communities to join together in the spirit of sisterhood.) CM: I've had the opportunity to visit your home along with more than 2600 women to experience the Joy of Connecting®. Do you remember what/how you felt after hosting your very first JOC meeting? BRP: I do remember and continue to be reminded every year as we celebrate its anniversary. The excitement of bringing like-minded women together, sharing a meal and listening to one another as they get to tell their individual story ‘Loud and Proud’ continues to feed my heart with joy. After over 90 JOCs in my home, and learning about the wide range of products and services women proudly represent, I haven’t lost a reminder of where it all started and how it evolved. One month at a time, one location at a time and now nationwide, each JOC is cause for celebration. Every JOC is committed to honoring women. We are here to encourage, to support and to provide in-person/in-touch experiences that one simply can’t find in any traditional networking CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 21

Cover Story

CM: To date, many JOC’s have been established throughout the Nation, where are they located? BRP: When someone visits TheJOYofConnecting.com, they can access locations from our home page. If a state is listed, there is an already established location eager to welcome women in that community. And, there are additional locations available. If a state doesn’t currently have a Joy of Connecting licensee, that is the wonderful opportunity for someone to step up, purchase a license and become a significant/go-to player! CM: The JOC network ONLY targets women. What do you feel is the main ingredient that drives others to connect with your network? BRP: Women by their very nature are nurturers. We love to help one another. Nationwide, we’ve all had experiences of women coming to their JOC for friendship first and business, secondary. You might ask, “Why”? The marketplace can be lonely. Competition is fierce. Where does one go to really be heard, appreciated and valued for their contribution to the economic fabric of their community? Where can one turn when trying to balance family and career? Who is going to listen when business is leveling off and one gets discouraged? The answer: The Joy of Connecting®. I could share hundreds of stories of the difference JOC has made in the lives of participants and players (our licensees). Collaborations are formed, business is established and lifelong relationships are created. We need one another. We appreciate one another. For me, personally, this year I suffered a tragic loss. My JOC family reached out in ways I could never repay. What is the main ingredient you ask? The ever present need to be connected. CM: Many networks are hit and miss meetings. What makes you an effective networker? BRP: I have spent 27+ years networking! I had to network to expand my franchise community. I had to network to get ads as the Associate Publisher of a suburban Atlanta newspaper. I had to network to establish The Joy of Connecting®. I’ve witnessed firsthand examples of the horrible networking that exists in the marketplace. Participants have shoved business cards in my hand hoping that the little rectangular piece of cardboard will be just enough motivation to purchase their product or service. I’ve watched conversations where someone does all the talking to a glazed listener, not once asking the other person to share their story/product/service. I consider myself an excellent networker because I listen. I initiate conversations. I follow up consistently. I introduce people I know to people they need to meet. I introduce people I meet to people I need to know. I never lead with my business card and only hand it to someone who asks or with their permission. I teach a workshop called, ‘Are You A Savvy Networker?’ with rich content and strategies that inspires attendees to increase their productivity and success by differentiating themselves from other networkers. I write books about networking. I guess one could say, you can’ help but improve and strengthen your networking muscle when you do it as long as I have and are determined to do it differently than anyone else unless they’ve learned from me! CM: You have penned three books, what are they and what was your motivation behind them? BRP: My signature and first book, Walk in My Boots – The Joy of Connecting, was the result of encouragement from women who knew me, had attended my Joy of Connecting and wanted me to share my story! I was also motivated in other ways. I dedicated it to my mom for her 80th birthday (she is now 87+ years young), named my publishing company, Lilli Publishing after her – my mom’s name is Lillian, and because my mom is an unbelievable networker. We all know people who never meet a stranger. That’s my mom. All the years I watched her as she lovingly interacted with others – I witnessed her example of really caring about others! CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 22

Cover Story

My second publication, Y.O.U. Set A High Standard for Being Human, came from a desire to share specific strategies on how we can all do a better job in the way we relate personally and professionally. 42 Rules for Effective Connections was released the week of the 7th Anniversary of The Joy of Connecting. It’s a collaborative publication where I invited licensees and JOC participants to share one specific strategy related to networking that has had a major impact on their success. By creating this as a co-authored book, it gave me a chance to honor and spotlight some of our most successful women. I also had the privilege of co-editing it with Cindy Elsberry, my Director of Field Support for The Joy of Connecting. Collectively and with hard work, we got the job done just in time for our JOC celebration – August, 2009! CM: Speaking of the “42 Rules for Effective Connections” can you share 3 rules? BRP: Asking me to pick only 3 is not an easy task! Here goes: Rule # 7: Keep A Curious Mind by Susan Brown. Curiosity is a vital, risk free networking tool. It speaks to the strategy that by being a great listener, you get to focus on the other person, hear what they have to say and can serve them more appropriately. (What’s in it for them – not you!). Rule # 14 – Keep in Touch by Annette Walden Mason. 80% of networking is showing up. 20% is follow up. If you don’t follow up, why show up? Annette shares specific ideas to keep you in top of mind w/clients and prospects. The third rule, # 19 is Share with Your Heart – by Dr. Linda Katz. When your heart is open, people know not only by your words but also by your actions. This rule emphasizes the concept that actions speak louder than words. CM: What advice do you have for our readership on how to get others to help them brand their vision? BRP: One of the keys to the successes I’ve had over the years is my being a student of personal and professional development. More so than when I first began my entrepreneurial journey, today we have unlimited access to books, CDs, seminars, the internet, tele-classes, etc. I believe to be successful, you have to make learning a priority. You need to feed and fuel your mind with positive information and what better way than with the resources I’ve suggested. I branded my vision by sheer luck and determination. I established myself as America’s Connection Diva by setting an example of what is possible when quitting was never an option. I created my program, The Joy of Connecting, by eliciting the support, encouragement and ideas from women who knew me and had experienced my drive and authenticity. Be a student. Learn from the experts. First you must be a student then you can lead. While I’ve never had all the answers, I was smart enough to know others did! Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who have expertise/experience they are willing to share. We are at a great time to uncover and discover innovative ways to add value to the marketplace. The time is now. Your time is now. Don’t ever give up on any dream of what is possible. The power is not in the knowledge. It’s what you do with what you learn. Step up to the plate. With practice, you, to can hit a home run!

For more information visit Bonnie online www.TheJoyofConnecting.com | www.TheLatinaJoyofConnecting.com | www.BonnieRossParker.com

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 23

Careers and Christ

By Stephanie C. Harper StephanieHarper.com

But some of them were men from Cyrus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenist, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of believed and turned. Acts 11: 20-21

We live in a commercalized culture which accepts that virtually everything is for sale. In a marketing culture, the Truth becomes the product of choice. Marketing however, is only effective when people are shaped to respond to it. Marketing of any sort makes us respond as consumers, regardless of what the product is, when we see marketing we start looking for a brand. Every brand communicates something different Mercedes says luxury, Honda says reliablity but what does the Christianity Brand stand for? In Acts 11: 19-30, the early followers of Jesus were "branded" Christians. - - Branded as "Jesus-People". What started out as a derogatory remark has become the nameplace of Christ's church. The early followers of Christ were looked upon wth disdain. Why? They promoted a cross-carrying Savior who became the object of ridicule. However, the text says, "they were preaching the Lord Jesus". The simple act of annoucing the good new of Christ and His cross is all they had to do to sell their brand to those who made it their product of Truth. While some many find the idea of selling/marketing Jesus disturbing, let me ask if you if you "market/sell" other things/people that are found valuable? Have you told anyone about your Doctor, did you tell anyone about the great sale last week, did you recommend a plumber you trust? Well isnt the "Jesus Brand" worth more than the doctor, the sale or the plummer? If you are a mouthpiece for them, surely you should share the "Jesus -Brand" through word of mouth advertising. If you really understand true branding it is NOT "getting your target market to choose you over the competition" but branding IS getting your prospects to see you as the ONLY one that can provide a solution to your problem. Many brands promise to deliver goods such as self-esteem, sex appeal, cofidence and coolness - that truely they have no intrinsic capacity to give. The Jesus -Brand has proven itself to not only deliver the goods, but to also give you more in life than one could even image. The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines brand as "name, term, sign, symbol, design or combination of them. Does your good name, terms in which you do business, signs, symbols, designs or combinations of them brand you as one of those "Jesus -People"? It's part of our culture to promoting things we find important. If you are a promoter of the "Jesus Brand"; the question becomes "Who is buying your brand?"

When its just you and Jesus, you (the consumer) "invite Him" (the Product) "into your heart " (brand adoption) and "get saved" (consumer gratification).

CAREER Magazine |November/ December 2010 | 24

FAITH FACTS

Avodah is the Hebrew origin (root word) for both Work and Worship. ~ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of the 52 parables Jesus told, 45 had workplace context. ~ Origin Source of Quote Unknown

Of the 40 miracles in the Book of Acts, 39 were in the marketplace. ~ Origin Source of Quote Unknown

Of 132 appearances in the New Testament 122 were in the marketplace. ~ Origin Source of Quote Unknown

Jesus and Paul spent more time in the marketplace than the synagogue. ~ Oz Hillman

47% of believers say preaching is irrelevant to daily life. ~ London Institute for Contemporary Christianity ADVERTISEMENT

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 25

Favor For Your LIfe

IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT IT'S BY DESIGN ( d e s i g n :

I N T E N T I O N ,

P U R P O S E

O R

E N D )

By Pastor Reginald Brown gccvv.org

When sudden things happen in life, people are quick to simply write it off saying it was an accident. Who could blame anyone from thinking this since people have been taught from birth that an accident is an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally, “after all accidents just happen.” This has been engrained in people to the extent that they rule out any potential that there could be a greater reason for what has happened. It is almost as if the word supernatural has no meaning and has become useless because whatever has happened is only an accident. The truth of the matter is accidents do happen, but not as often as we think. You might have lost your job right before the holidays, had a child become ill just before their birthday or had a family member to pass suddenly. Though the events happened suddenly, without warning chances are it wasn’t an accident. In Mark 5 Jairus could have believed his daughter’s illness was just an accident. After all it happened out of the blue without any warning. To make matters worse her illness was so intense that it forced her father to seek help from Jesus. If that wasn’t enough on his way home with Jesus a lady with her own set of problems interrupts their journey by touching Jesus and forcing Him to have a conversation with her. For Jairus the accident becomes worse, while he is interrupted his daughter dies. By the time Jesus reaches the house it is filled with sad people who only see the death of the young girl. Because they only saw the accident, the problem they couldn’t connect the dots, so they missed what was happening right before them. They didn’t see how God designed the situation. You see because the little girl became ill a lady got the healing she wanted and needed from Jesus. Because Jesus stopped to talk to the lady Jairus got more than he could have ever imagined. He got to see the power of God raise his daughter and bring joy to his home. The next time something happens don’t be too quick to write it off as an accident. Start connecting the dots because just maybe God is designing your situation to bring joy to you!

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 26

Career Tips

TIPS TO TAKE WITH YOU! By Stephanie C. Harper, PHR www.StephanieHarrper.com

ยง Please follow directions When applying for a position, it is important to possess the minimum requirements as well as follow directions listed in the job posting. Failure to do BOTH is counter-productive to your job search. Below are a few instructions that cost many job seekers opportunities due to failure to follow directions: ยงNo Phone Calls Please All employers have a process. If an employer indicates "no phone calls" and you decide to call anyway, you have just told the employer you do not follow instructions or you are willing to go around the process at any cost. Your goal as a job seeker is to get noticed but not for the inability to follow written instructions. ยงInclude salary history Every employer sets a budget for an open position. If you need $50k and the max an employer can pay is $30k it is a waste of everyone's time to proceed with the interview. No matter how great you think you are, you cannot convince an employer to pay you what they simply cannot afford or are not willing to pay for the position. ยง Required Experienced Only Any new position will always have a learning curve. Employers will give you a reasonable amount of time to become acclimated to doing things "their way", but they expect for you to have previous working knowledge and experience in the industry or position for which you are applying. Typically when employers post the job opening it is to fill an immediate need, which may not allow time for training or learning on the job.

TOP 5 REASONS JOB SEEKERS ARE DISQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB: 1. 3%

-Self Elimination

2. 15% -No legal Right to Work 3. 16% -Do not possess a valid ID. 4. 20% -Lack job related experience 5. 43% -Request flexible schedules Are you amazed that the majority of people who are unemployed because they are seeking a schedule that does not match the employers need? One thing to remember, is the employer is seeking someone to fill their needs first. In return, they will provide you with an employment opportunity. You will be required to make adjustments to your schedule before the employer will make adjustments to meet your schedule.

For Daily Employment and Enterprener Tips Visit Our Social Media Pages

www.Facebook.com/TheCareerMag

www.Twitter.com/SpeakStephanie

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CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 27

Moments of Motivation

By Thommi Odom, PMP, PHR Thommoodom.com

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right? Maybe not, if you haven’t reached your goal of transitioning into the perfect career or finding your ideal job. So, how can you get through the holiday season without looking and feeling like Mr. Scourge? Here are some tips to keep your job search and your mood festive: 1. Use holiday gatherings as an opportunity to practice and perfect your elevator pitch. Don’t put friends on edge by immediately asking about job opportunities, but weave into the conversation the kind of role you are pursuing. Don’t know what an elevator pitch is or haven’t crafted one yet? Check out: http://www.15secondpitch.com 2. Reconnect with people within your network. Send out some holiday cheer via email or drop a note card in the mail. This will put you back on their radar and keep you in the loop about changes in the industry, etc. 3. Conduct a year-end assessment of your job search strategy. ·What worked? What didn’t work? ·What companies do you want to target next year? ·What network events yielded the best results? ·Are you effectively using social media to gain contacts? ·Are your marketing tools (resume, business cards, online profile) accurately reflecting you? 4.Relax and Recharge. This is the most important step. Spend time with family and friends and enjoy the moment. Give thanks for what you have accomplished thus far.

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 28

Career Tips

HOW TO GET THINGS DONE IN YOUR "WORKSHOP" ALL YEAR Excerpt from the book "The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus" By Eric Harvey, David Cottrell and Al Lucia

BUILD A WONDERFUL WORKSHOP: Ÿ Make The Mission The Main Thing Ÿ Focus On Your People As Well As Your Purpose

GET BEYOND THE RED WAGON Ÿ Help Everyone Accept The Reality of Change Ÿ Remember: The Customer is Really In Charge Ÿ Teach “The Business” of The Business

Ÿ Let Values Be Your Guide

CHOOSE YOUR REINDEER WISELY: ŸHire Tough So You Can Manage Easy ŸPromote The Right Ones...For The Right Reasons ŸGo For The Diversity Advantage

MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE:

SHARE THE MILK AND COOKIES: Ÿ Help Them See The Difference They Make Ÿ Do Right By Those Who Do Right Ÿ Expand the Reinforcement Possibilities

FIND OUT WHO’S NAUGHTY AND NICE:

Ÿ Plan Your Work

Ÿ Confront Performance Problems....EARLY!

Ÿ Work Your Plan

Ÿ Coach “The Majority in the Middle”

Ÿ Make The Most Of What You Have

Ÿ Don’t Forget “The Superstars”

BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE

LISTEN TO THE ELVES: Ÿ Open Your Ears To Participation

Ÿ Set The Example

Ÿ Pay Attention to How You’re Perceived

Ÿ Establish Guidelines And Accountable

Ÿ Walk Awhile in “THEIR” Shoes

Ÿ Remember That Everything Counts

CAREER Magazine | July / August 2010 | 29

Career & Workplace Success

From the Pavement to the Corner Office By Treivor Branch, MSP, CPC TheBranchSolution.com

Whether you are a jobseeker or a working professional, you need to realize that YOU are a brand. You also need to view the workplace as your marketplace and market your brand like big names such as Nike, Coca-Cola, and Revlon; just to name a few. These brands have become known as the best in their industries and you can implement the same techniques they have used, to grow your career from the pavement to the cubicle and, from the cubicle to the corner office. 1. Develop Your USP Identify and develop your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Being able to answer the question ‘What makes you unique?’ is the first step to developing your USP. Determine what sets you apart from others in your field, your workplace, your department and your team. What do you bring to the table that they don’t? Employers want to know – ‘If I hire you, if I promote you, or if I have you join my team, what will I get?’ 2. Call in The SWOT Team Having trouble developing your USP? Perform a SWOT Analysis. Identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Pull together a SWOT team to get feedback from others who know you. Include those who have worked with you, for you, and whom you have worked for. Get a full 360 degree look at who you are and what makes you unique. After gathering this feedback, analyze it, and be sure to approach your USP focusing on your strengths. Also, be sure to capitalize on your opportunities and eliminate your threats. 3. Market Your Brand Your proposition is your proposal of what you bring to the table and what you want. Now that you know what makes you unique and have identified your strengths, you can create your package and market it. Your brand should be professionally packaged in a resume or curriculum vitae (CV), as well as in how you look, feel, and present yourself. Do not hesitate to toot your own horn by clearly communicating your USP. Be sure to connect your USP to a problem-solving, money-generating, or money-saving activity for the employer. 4. Stand By Your Brand Brand integrity is essential for success. Now that you have put yourself out there, never slack on your brand. Make sure you can deliver what you promise every time. One false move can destroy the brand you’ve worked so hard to develop. Keep in mind, people don’t always remember what you say, but they do remember what you did and how it made them feel. If you say you can do something, do it, ensure your work is always of the highest quality, don’t take shortcuts and, most of all, exceed expectations!

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 30

Corporate Mom Dropouts

By Lucinda Cross CorporateMomDropouts.com

The benefit of working from home is you don’t have an office outside of the house. Yet, one of the most stressful parts of working from home? Yep, you guessed it. You don’t have an office outside of the house to escape to. Working from home can be very stressful when the family forget “mom” is t not available during normal business hours. When my family wants “mom” to deliver forgotten items, wait for the cable man, or let the kids play Club Penguin on the laptop, it can be well....frankly, a little irritating. Just goes to show there is a learning curve in every office atmosphere BUT with the proper training, your family will happily (most of the time) adhere to your work rules, if you follow these suggestions: Make the rules concrete. Set specific guidelines. These can be simple to understand guidelines like “You may not come in Mommy’s office when the door is closed” which even the youngest children can understand. You can set a more specific schedule for older children such as “I am not available between 10-2, Monday through Friday.” The more specific your rules, the more readily everyone will abide by them. Reward them for compliance. Bribery works! In extreme cases, readily agree to play a despised board game, take the gang for ice cream, or let someone else control the TV remote in exchange for an hour of uninterrupted work time. Don’t be afraid to reward your family for a job well done. If you have a specific project that you need to get done, remind your family of the rules, and let them know that you appreciate their understanding by giving them something to look forward to. Help them be a success, too! Refuse to break the code. No means no, not maybe. If you give in to whining or pleading, you’re only training your children (or spouse) to whine and plead. Not a good thing. Before you give in, ask yourself what you’re training your family to believe about your ability to set limits. Then act accordingly. Teaching children to respect the rules is a lesson for life. Hold up your side of the bargain. If you tell the children you’ll be off the computer at 5:00 p.m. to spend some time playing Duck Duck Goose, then you’d better be goosing it up at 4:50 p.m. Pushing out the timeline or going back on your agreement is no good. This only sets the stage for an argument. The next time you insist on a specific rule regarding your office time, you will have much less leverage as you try to defend your position. Your word is your bond – keep it. Be available when you’re off the clock. If you want your family to respect your work time and space, then you need to respect family time. No checking the BlackBerry at the dinner table. No taking business calls in the middle of Junior’s school play. No sneaking off to your computer to send a few emails when the rest of the family is gathered around the TV, watching SpongeBob. When you’re “away” from the office, make sure you’re really away. You set the rules – you need to follow them, too. CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 31

Marketing & Public Relations

By Pam Perry PamPerryPR.com

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 32

I Live Online

By JimStroud

ILiveOnline.com

Late last year (or was it early this year?) the BLS published a report called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Employment Projections: 2008-2018 Summary.â&#x20AC;? What did it do? In a nutshell, it looked at a bunch of numbers and predicted which industries would boom over the next decade and which one would go the way of the dinosaur. Here are a few highlights from that report: The top 10 growth industries: * Management, scientific and technical consulting services * Offices of physicians * Computer systems design and related services * Other general merchandise stores * Employment services * Local government, excluding education and hospitals * Home health care services * Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities * Nursing care facilities * Full-service restaurants

The top 10 industries expected to experience the steepest employment declines: * Department stores * Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing * Motor vehicle parts manufacturing * Postal service * Printing and related support activities * Cut and sew apparel manufacturing * Newspaper publishers * Support activities for mining * Gasoline stations * Wired telecommunications carriers

And here are a few more interesting tidbits you might want to know: * As Baby Boomers grow older and continue their trend of increased labor force participation, the number of persons ages 55+ in the labor force is expected to increase by 12 million, or 43% percent, during the 2008-18 period. Those ages 55+ are projected to make up nearly one-quarter of the labor force in 2018. * Young people (age 16-24) are expected to account for 12.7% of the labor force in 2018, and persons in the prime-age working group (ages 25- 54) to account for 63.5% of the 2018 labor force. * Hispanics (who can be of any race) will join the labor force in greater numbers than non-Hispanics. The number of Hispanics in the labor force is projected to grow by 7.3 million or 33.1%. Their share of the labor force will expand from 14.3% in 2008 to 17.6% in 2018. * All but three of the top 30 fastest-growing detailed occupations are found within professional and related occupations and service occupations. Seventeen of these rapidly growing occupations are related to healthcare or medical research. So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work. -Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.nr0.htm CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 33

BOOKS ARE A BUSINESS

By Stephanie C. Harper StephanieHarper.com

Many of you reading this article are aspiring authors or trying to figure out what to do with the book you've written! After all when you wrote your book, you did not write it with the intent of keeping it to yourself (right?). Your book was written because you felt you had a story or message to share with others, but did you also consider it to be your product? The bottomline is when you decided to write a book, you took on a new business venture. Yes Sir, Yes Ma'am....Books Are A Business™! Anyone venturing into the world of publishing needs to understand the "business side of books!". In fact, one of the biggest mistakes that aspiring authors make is failing to treat their book like a business. Publishing is a book business....PERIOD! If you're not ready to have a business, then you're not ready to write a book. However, if you are going to be a successful author, you need to plan for it. There are tons of tools to help you make the most of your new business venture (including the BOOKS ARE A BUSINESS™ KIT) Every business requires a strategy for effectively handing it P.D.P. What is P.D.P.? Glad you asked.... P = Product / D = Distribution / P = Profit. These are essential for any business. Now let's move into some basic business areas that you have to master to successfully turn your book into a business. One book can become several streams of income by which you can profit. Below are a few key ways to turn your book into a business: •TURN IT INTO A PRODUCT AND SERVICE: You can sell your book (tangible product) and you can develop workshops (service) around your books topic! •ESTABLISH YOUR SELF AS AN EXPERT: Writing a book brings credibility to what you do (provding you have some knowledge on the subject matter) and people will pay you for appearances, advice and articles. •PROMOTE WITH A PURPOSE: Locate organizations that are willing to share your book with thier network and find ways to get your book on the list of REQUIRED READING! Did you hear that soound? It went CHA CHING! Writing a book is a lot of work, but believe it or not, that's really the easy part. LETS GO!

P = Product

D = Distribution

P = Profit

CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 34

BOOKS ARE A BUSINESS

CAREER Magazine

"BOOKS ARE A BUSINESS™" AUTHORS CORNER

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK? So does about 80 percent of the United States population According to a survey: 27% would write fiction 28% would write on personal development 27% would write history, biography, etc. 20% would do a picture book, cookbook, etc. 6 million have ALREADY written a manuscript 6 million manuscripts are making the rounds Out of every 10,000 children’s books, 3 get published The CAREER Magazine staff has published books, magazines, and products and we want to share the "know how" with you. One book, but many paths to profit. Let us show you how!!! By joining the Author's Corner, you will learn how to create residual income while turning your BOOK INTO A BUSINESS!

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE: Included with Membership: - Books Are A Business Kit ( Over 100 pages of nfo) $149 Value - Publishing Tips Delivered Directly to Your Inbox - Priceless - 4 Publishing Webinar CD's $99 Value - 1 Online Webinar with CM's Publishing Team $500 Value Access to: - Feature on Career Conversations Talk Radio - Feature your book in CAREER Magazine (over 80, 000 Subscribers) - Feature your book in the Author's Corner Magazine - 3 Page Website Site - Free Book Cover Design - A copy of "One Author's Story" Audio - ISBN # - Filing with the Library of Congress

™

Visit www.StephanieHarper.com to start your membership TODAY

CAREER Magazine | November / December 2010 | 35

Compensation Corner

By Carol Haynes www.TheCareerMag.com

Employee benefits and benefits in kind (also called fringe benefits, perquisites, or perks) are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries.[1] Where an employee exchanges (cash) wages for some other form of benefit, this is generally referred to as a 'salary sacrifice' arrangement. In most countries, most kinds of employee benefits are taxable to at least some degree. Some of these benefits are: housing (employer-provided or employer-paid), group insurance (health, dental, life etc.), disability income protection, retirement benefits, daycare, tuition reimbursement, sick leave, vacation (paid and non-paid), social security, profit sharing, funding of education, and other specialized benefits. The purpose of the benefits is to increase the economic security of employees. The term perks is often used colloquially to refer to those benefits of a more discretionary nature. Often, perks are given to employees who are doing notably well and/or have seniority. Common perks are take-home vehicles, hotel stays, free refreshments, leisure activities on work time (golf, etc.), stationery, allowances for lunch, andâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;when multiple choices existâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;first choice of such things as job assignments and vacation scheduling. They may also be given first chance at job promotions when vacancies exist. Employee benefits in the United States might include relocation assistance; medical, prescription, vision and dental plans; health and dependent care flexible spending accounts; retirement benefit plans (pension, 401(k), 403(b)); group-term life and long term care insurance plans; legal assistance plans; adoption assistance; child care benefits; transportation benefits; and possibly other miscellaneous employee discounts (e.g., movies and theme park tickets, wellness programs, discounted shopping, hotels and resorts, and so on). Some fringe benefits (for example, accident and health plans, and group-term life insurance coverage up to US$50,000) may be excluded from the employee's gross income and, therefore, are not subject to federal income tax in the United States. Some function as tax shelters (for example, flexible spending accounts, 401(k)'s, 403(b)'s). Fringe benefits are also thought of as the costs of keeping employees other than salary. These benefit rates are typically calculated using fixed percentages that vary depending on the employeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classification and often change from year to year. Normally, employer provided benefits are tax-deductible to the employer and non-taxable to the employee. The exception to the general rule includes certain executive benefits (e.g. golden handshake and golden parachute plans). CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 36

Marketing and Public Relations

By Pam Perry PamPerryPR.com

What is Branding? Many people think that having a logo, tagline, great photos, and maybe a website, blog and Facebook page is all they need to set up their brand. NOT! However, brand, as we know it today is not a logo. A logo is the tangible identity of a company in the market. Logos can be emblems, signs or symbols designed to portray the image of a company. So you see a logo (which is essentially a piece of art) is not a brand. However, it is integral to the brand. By branding - you are creating a PERCEIVED image - SO you must distinguish yourself, your book or your organization from others who do similar stuff or offer similar products. The most critical part: KNOWING WHAT YOUR BRAND STANDS FOR! What is your brand promise? Who do people say YOU ARE? Are they confused? Are you? Said another way, branding is a way you can: • Affirm your value to the market place • Highlight your unique selling point • Establish your reputation and create a loyal "fan" base • Attract your core target audience and garner customers It takes a long time build up substantial "brand equity" - don't destroy it because you have a new idea. Stick with your logo, tagline and other elements you have set in place. You want to get to the point with your brand so that it is embedded into the subconscious minds of your audience. When it is in the psyche of consumers, they will automatically connect a phrase or photo with you. When you hear a name - you get a mental picture or think of a quality. If I say, TD Jakes or Oprah - you have an idea of what to expect from those "brand names." They are famous, true, but they are also a brand. And a brand translates in business into dollars. That's the bottom line. A good example is the "Just do it" campaign. That phrase and "swoosh" logo are their brand. Whether their shoes are better than others - well, that's how you see it. But regardless, you'll pay a premium price for their shoes because they've branded themselves that way. Branding in business is about building an empire. What does your brand say about you? You can gage by checking sales figures. That is a good indication of how well your brand is doing. What will bad branding do? NOTHING. Meaning you be invisible! NO action. No reaction! FLAT! And there's nothing worst than that in the marketplace.

A BRAND MAKES YOU STAND OUT! CAREER Magazine | November/ December 2010 | 37

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CAREER Magazine | September / October 2010 | 38

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