SUCCESS 2LZ

Is there really gender discrimination in business?

In a private Facebook group, I noticed a lot of people were looking for a tech person to work with. So, I introduced myself. Upon returning to check on the status, I saw a post at the very top of the wall from a guy who also introduced himself as a coder.

Now, I’m not that naive to think I am the only geek in a group. There are probably many people better at tech than me in any group. What gave me pause was, why this guy’s introduction got so many responses when mine hardly went noticed.

A horrifying thought flashed through my mind. It couldn’t be true. Did he get more attention because he’s… a man? Maybe you have experienced something similar. Something that made you stop to wonder if you didn’t win the bid, secure that client or get that exposure because you are a woman. Then, you look around and it looks like all the top dogs are men.

Of course it depends on the industry you are in but I’m here to tell you, even in seemingly male-centric arenas, there are plenty of women quietly making serious coin. Sometimes, we aren’t seeing the ladies because women simply aren’t vocal about their successes. And, when we toot our own horn, we often express it in an entirely different manner.

For us, being able to support our families and being there when the kids get off the bus mean a whole lot more than ‘crushing it’ or making a million dollars in 24 hours. I’m not saying women don’t strive for that. I’d love to make that kind of money any day. It’s just, our goals are often more immediate and realistic.

That is why it’s always refreshing to hear stories about real women and how they broke through the barriers. If you need a little inspiration from authentic women just like you, head on over to SoloMasterminds. They are bragging on three ladies who turned their wildest dreams into reality while juggling homework, laundry, whiny children, soccer practices and meal plans.

As for that little incident I told you about earlier, after giving it more thought, I decided it had nothing to do with gender nor discrimination of any kind. There were plenty of logical and probably more accurate explanations like the timing of our posts and how quickly my post got buried under a flurry of activity.

What I learned that week – focus on being awesome instead of speculating about something that may not be true because when working for yourself, there is no glass ceiling. Especially with an Internet business. Don’t take my word for it. Check out the three case studies and let those women tell you their story.

— BIO —
Lynette Chandler helps small businesses leverage technology in their marketing. She is also the resident tech expert at SoloMasterminds and credits it for helping to turn her business around. Lynette would love to connect with you in this special community and invites you to come check it out.

Choosing a Court Reporting Company

5 Key Points to Consider

Be a part of history in the making as a court reporter!  There’s an enticing tagline for a job description.  A court reporter creates a verbatim transcript of legal proceedings in a court room or in a deposition, thereby capturing history for the record.  Preserving the spoken word requires a high degree of accuracy.  A successful court reporter strives for excellence, knowing that her role is incredibly important.

When selecting a court reporting company, be sure they employ quality, experienced court reporters.

Do they handle multiple aspects of the deposition?  The ability to schedule the court reporter, the conference suite, an interpreter if necessary, the videographer and so on with one telephone call will save you time and effort.

A top notch court reporting company will have an excellent website where you will find comprehensive services including deposition scheduling online, web-based document delivery, and transcript archiving.

The transcript they provide should be a properly formatted, first-rate product.  Does the court reporting company also provide a CD containing transcripts and exhibits?

Tip:  Transcripts presented in three-ring binders are easier to work with if you need to make copies.

Finally, be sure to choose a court reporting company that has a superb reputation with good testimonials and positive endorsements from current clients.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Huseby, Inc.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Recently Lost Job

The author of this post is Darius Boone.

I recently lost my job and it has made everything a thousand times more difficult.  It is true what they say:  it’s easier to find a new job while still working at an old job.  Every job I have applied for has hired someone still working.  I even think I have been more qualified, but I guess the “not employed” part is almost like stamping “loser” on my head.  I have had to start cutting back on a lot.  I no longer have cable, which is more difficult than I thought it would be.  I honestly didn’t realize how much I enjoyed relaxing by the television.  I have been trying to cut back on as many utilities and extras as I can. My friend keeps telling me to check out bounce energy rates in houston.  I will probably try that tomorrow.  Since I am guessing I am still going to be jobless, I need to find another way to cut back some expenses.  I am hopeful to find something soon.  I just hope it is really soon.

Social Media Management

Via: Wpromote

Social media marketing personalizes corporations and businesses.  It is a simple and very effective way to put a face to the name.  Rather than being faceless, lifeless entities, businesses can be seen as the faces of the people who work there.

Personalization becomes quite easy to accomplish through the use of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others.  These marketing platforms give you a way to connect and become involved with your audience.  Interacting on a person-to-person level removes, or at least softens, the sales pitch and gives your prospects a chance to begin to like you and learn to trust you.

Social media marketing can be carried over to your offline advertising as well.  Consider having pens and coffee mugs made up with your Twitter username saying “Follow @Success2LZ” or with a request to “Connect with me on Facebook.”

Social media campaigns give your audience a way of finding your business on the internet.  For a small investment, you have an ideal communication tool that can help improve your relationship with clients and boost your bottom line.  The subtle art of persuasion, pre-selling your customer with high-value content, and building trust and credibility can all be accomplished through good social media management.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Wpromote.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Chemical Mergers and Acquisitions

When you’re out shopping for a new set of living room furniture, you’re looking at colors, textures, and designs that appeal to your sense of style.  You’re looking for a lamp with that certain je ne sais quoi.

One thing you’re probably not thinking about is the chemicals that were used to produce that fine furniture.  Chemicals are involved in the manufacturing process of a wide variety of our consumer goods including textiles, apparel, plastic products, construction materials, and furniture.

The chemical industry has been growing rapidly for more than fifty years.  Today it is a trillion-dollar, global business at the core of our modern world economy.

What are the prospects for the chemical sector in 2012?  Will apprehension over Europe’s worsening debt crisis have an adverse effect on this sector?  Undoubtedly, the financial crisis of 2008 spurred companies to prepare themselves to deal with the possibility of further economic turmoil.

Investors who want to know more about this industry should make contact with professionals that offer chemical advisory services.  When you’re looking for information in a particular niche such as chemical mergers and acquisitions, it’s wise to consult with someone who has first-hand experience.  Seek out a chemical investment bank that specializes in advisory and transactional services.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of The Valence Group.  All opinions are 100% my own.

New in Town

Contributed by Dion Olson

Being new in town means I spend a lot of time at my house watching all my http://www.direc4u.com/nm/a/albuquerque/ channels but that’s okay with me.  I’ve caught up on a lot of my favorite shows that I never had time to watch in New York and I think my favorite’s got to be The Real World.  I know a lot of people think it’s “jumped the shark” and that it’s pretty silly but I have to admit I think that’s what I like about it. I don’t have to think too hard or really delve into complex issues – it’s just a bunch of early 20 year olds drinking and fighting and generally just acting immaturely like they’re wont to do. I know it’s something I shouldn’t waste my time on but hey, I feel like anything that allows you to really relax is good for you so I don’t really think I need to explain myself.  It’s not like I’d admit that I watch it to anyone in real life, you know?

Freelancers Find New Service Marketplace

Freelancers looking for work are discovering a new service marketplace online.  It is a social community, networking marketplace without job boards.  It is SideSkills.

You don’t bid for jobs on SideSkills!  Instead, you receive project invitations from project managers (aka employers).  You then have the option of accepting or declining the invitation.  The project manager evaluates the service providers who have accepted the assignment invitation, makes a selection, and awards the project.

So if there are no job boards, how do you find work?  The short answer is – it finds you.

The profile you create tells potential employers about you.  I love the user-friendly interface where you list your skills, upload your resume, and add files to your portfolio.

The portfolio section gives you the opportunity to shine a light on your accomplishments.  Upload photography, audio and video files, graphic design, artwork, and documents.  Your portfolio allows employers to get to know you and your capabilities through your work.  Employers can identify skill sets that match the criteria for their current project, possibly resulting in more invitations (aka project offers) coming your way.

SideSkills is making finding and filling a side job more fun and a whole lot easier, too!

SideSkills ~ Where enthusiastic employees and employers network.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of SideSkills.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Fashionable Scrub Uniforms

Jenny woke up in the recovery room after knee surgery and the first person she saw was a nurse smiling at her and telling her something.  Jenny couldn’t remember what it was, she was still too groggy.  “Cute hat,” she mumbled to the nurse.  Realizing vaguely that the surgery was over, Jenny smiled and then dozed off again.

In her dream, the nurse wearing the Pixie scrub hat turned into a pioneer woman in a cornflower blue bonnet.  She was walking behind a prairie schooner, children were running and laughing, the woman’s dog was keeping a watchful eye on them all.

The feminine Pixie scrub hat is part of a collection of modernized nurses scrub uniforms.  Fabric choices for nursing scrubs have changed radically as well.  These days you will find bright colors that pop, soothing colors like French lilac, and whimsical patterns that elicit smiles.

http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/

I really think that fashionable scrub outfits have a positive effect on patients.  The relaxed styles and variety of colors don’t trigger stressful feelings like the stark, white uniforms of the past did.  Patients can see that the nurses and hospital staff are just people like themselves, simply doing a job.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of blue sky scrubs.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Minerals Industry is Booming!

Rockhounding is a widely popular hobby in Washington State as a result of the region’s intense and powerful geological history.  Some of the most significant agate deposits in the United States, including the well-known Ellensburg Blue Agate, are found in Washington.

This fascination with rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones can naturally lead to an interest in geology and a professional degree in engineering or the high tech minerals industry.

It’s a great time to consider a job in mining.  In spite of global economic challenges and monetary crises, the rapidly growing mining industry remains a very lucrative career choice.  There are tremendous employment opportunities for skilled tradesmen and professionals in all aspects of the mining sector.

Is a career in the minerals industry right for you?  The successful job candidate will be physically fit, be willing to relocate or work in remote areas, value workplace safety, always be ready to learn new skills and have a positive, can-do attitude.

Industry salaries are very attractive, ranging from $40,000 to more than $200,000+ based on relevant experience and qualifications.

So where are the jobs?  Australian mining operations are booming!  Locate opportunities in one of the world’s most technologically advanced industries by entering the phrase ‘job search Australia’ in your favorite web browser.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Rock People.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Moving Company

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

Starting our moving company in the dead of the recession may not have been the smartest idea we’ve ever had, but it sure has been fun.  And challenging, too!  My sons and I always wanted to do something together and it was tough for us to come up with something that would work, but the moving company just felt right.  I love how much I get to use my physicality every day and my sons and I get to spend all day working together which is just great.  I am really glad James is so good at the business side of things…he’s always going to www.bank-card-processing.com or calling a vendor or something like that which is just not where I shine.  My boy Mark and I are both just better at lifting heavy objects than anything else!  Anyway, we’re turning a profit now and business seems to be looking up and I know once the recession is over and people start buying houses again, it’s going to be a whole new story. You know there’s nothing like working with family!