Women's Leadership Exchange Blog

The Magic of Steve Jobs Part 2

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:56:09 -0400

Steve Jobs has died. That it such a cold and unwanted fact about a man that has warmed the hearts of millions with his joyful, beautiful and super-functional technology. I wrote a blog at the end of August when Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO. Everything I wrote then communicates my feelings about Steve today. And anyway Steve Jobs lives on in the hearts of most Apple product users (and who isn’t?) with an appreciation for his knowing what we wanted without us even asking for it. So here is the blog I shared on August 28th…

Does Steve Jobs have a magic wand? With the news that Steve Jobs is stepping down as APPLE CEO, journalists and business bloggers, like me, are commenting in droves about the magic he created at APPLE. It does seem like Jobs has supernatural powers to be able transform an entrepreneurial venture into the number one brand in the world, producing products that have changed our lives dramatically. Few BIG brands can claim that today - not IBM, AT&T or GE, to mention some of the biggest companies in the world.

In fact, today APPLE is the number one most successful brand and corporation in the world. And better yet, APPLE is one of the few companies that is creating jobs, instead of cutting them, in this recession.

So what makes Steve Jobs the super hero of business? First off, let's face it, Jobs is a true visionary. He envisions brilliant products and creates and markets them beyond effectively. Second, he is a perfectionist when it comes to both engineering and design. He settles for nothing less than the best, including making his products, marketing, packaging etc. aesthetically beautiful with cutting edge design and international appeal. He also has recruited a team of top notch engineers, designers and marketers who can bring his genius to life. But no matter how smart and talented they are, Jobs is the final decisionmaker. He doesn't worry about others' hurt feelings, disagreements with him or whether they will leave. He is the decider. And most of them have accepted this.

Finally, he doesn't believe in research. He says, he knows what consumers want. And he is creating it for them. And he has been right 100% of the time - MacBooks, ipods, ipads, itunes. You name it and we want it. And we want it BAD!! Steve Jobs KNOWS and is totally confident in creating innovative break-through products and making the final decisions regarding them. In other words, he trusts his gut...his intuition...his inner knowing.

So what can we learn from Jobs? He's not the perfect leader per the book. His collaborative and listening skills may be weak. He may not have all the qualities we like best from our leaders, but the skills he practices outshine everyone else on the block. I give him an A plus on: (1) Vision, (2) Communication (3) Courage and (4) Confidence.

Steve Jobs' extraordinary success is a great lesson for us all. While none of us are perfect leaders, we can be authentic leaders - honing our inner leadership skills, and not second guessing ourselves. Steve Jobs will be in a new role as Chair of the Board of APPLE. And I for one, plan to continue to watch every move he makes. My fingers are crossed that he will be back to being CEO again in the near future. (This isn't the first time he has stepped away.) I can't wait to see what Jobs and APPLE does in the next decade! Afterall, he knows what you and I want before we do.......

Addendum: On Steve Job’s passing on October 5th, 2011, we now know he’s not returning to APPLE, as so many of had anticipated. Our hope is that his legacy at APPLE continues, inspiring his successor and his successors of the future to continue the innovative products and spirit which Steve instilled in the company. And most of all, I hope that young people will pursue the opportunities that technology provide us to continue to create products that connect humanity presented in beautiful design that delights the senses….
Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange; President, Leslie Grossman Leadership

The Magic of Steve Jobs

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:42:08 -0400

In fact, today APPLE is the number one most successful brand and corporation in the world. And better yet, APPLE is one of the few companies that is creating jobs, instead of cutting them, in this recession.

So what makes Steve Jobs the super hero of business? First off, let's face it, Jobs is a true visionary. He envisions brilliant products and creates and markets them beyond effectively. Second, he is a perfectionist when it comes to both engineering and design. He settles for nothing less than the best, including making his products, marketing, packaging etc. aesthetically beautiful with cutting edge design and international appeal. He also has recruited a team of top notch engineers, designers and marketers who can bring his genius to life. But no matter how smart and talented they are, Jobs is the final decisionmaker. He doesn't worry about others' hurt feelings, disagreements with him or whether they will leave. He is the decider. And most of them have accepted this.

Finally, he doesn't believe in research. He says, he knows what consumers want. And he is creating it for them. And he has been right 100% of the time - MacBooks, ipods, ipads, itunes. You name it and we want it. And we want it BAD!! Steve Jobs KNOWS and is totally confident in creating innovative break-through products and making the final decisions regarding them. In other words, he trusts his gut...his intuition...his inner knowing.

So what can we learn from Jobs? He's not the perfect leader per the book. His collaborative and listening skills may be weak. He may not have all the qualities we like best from our leaders, but the skills he practices outshine everyone else on the block. I give him an A plus on: (1) Vision, (2) Communication (3) Courage and (4) Confidence.

Steve Jobs' extraordinary success is a great lesson for us all. While none of us are perfect leaders, we can be authentic leaders - honing our inner leadership skills, and not second guessing ourselves. Steve Jobs will be in a new role as Chair of the Board of APPLE. And I for one, plan to continue to watch every move he makes. My fingers are crossed that he will be back to being CEO again in the near future. (This isn't the first time he has stepped away.) I can't wait to see what Jobs and APPLE does in the next decade! Afterall, he knows what you and I want before we do.......Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange; President, Leslie Grossman Leadership

Paying Homage to a Great Female Leader Who, By the Way, Was a Physician

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:45:41 -0400

Dr. Bernadine Healy was determined, independent and driven to make a difference. She could have had a nice cardiology practice but instead she chose to take on the establishment in at least two of her most important roles. The first was as the first woman to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1991-93, and second, as the first physician to lead the America Red Cross.

WLE is saddened by the loss of this great woman, who passed away August 6th, at the young age of 67 from brain cancer. WLE recognized Bernadine in 2004 with the Women's Leadership Exhange Compass Award presented to women who have shifted the paradigm of how women leaders are perceived in the world. Not only did she shift that paradigm, but she changed the world of women's health in a male domain of medicine and government. As director of NIH, she advocated studies that challenged assumptions about women's health. The result was research that transformed the common wisdom that heart attacks affected mostly men to an understanding that heart disease was the number one killer of women. At the NIH, she mandated that women be included in clinical trials at a time when the medical establishment was primarily focused on men's health. She began studies that investigated the causes, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and osteoporosis in women, which today continues to yield results and impacts women's health. Those studies discovered that postmenopausal women taking estrogen-progestin hormone replacement therapy over time, were at great risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart attacks. This is only one area where her leadership lead to information which would prolong the lives of women. For this alone, we owe her so much.

Women have come a long way, and it's women like Bernadine Healy, who are willing to speak out, go against the establishment and take action on their beliefs courageously. At the Red Cross Dr. Healy took on the bureaucracy which resulted in great controversy. And there lies the risk in being fearless. Believe it or not, women are beginning to be recognized for their fearlessness. Many of these women leaders are being featured on the front pages of newspapers like the The New York Times - women like Sheila Blair, departed chairwoman of the FDIC and director Elizabeth Warren, former director of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, both who have been criticized for being outspoken and independent. But this week, let us pay homage to Dr. Bernadine Healy, and acknowledge the thousands of lives that have been lengthened by her forthrightness. I only wish, there had been someone, whose leadership in the brain cancer field would have been able to save her life........Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange, www.womensleadershipexchange.com

Guest Post: If You Don't Ask... Getting the Business Help You Need

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 07:58:41 -0400

My sweet little grandmother used to advise me all the time, 'Judy darling, remember: If you don't ask, you don't get.' � For too many years I did not take Grandma's sage advice. Building my business, I was busy being all things to a small group of people (clients, family, friends) and some things to a larger group of people (everyone else), with little left for myself. Admitting that I couldn't handle everything myself? Not this juggling fool. I especially didn't think to ask other women business owners for help. I was too used to going to the boys, not the girls. � That said, my business was stuck. I had gotten to a certain plateau and was no longer growing. I had a staff, but I could not stop micromanaging them, which meant that they were not happy and that I had much too much on my plate. Nonetheless, I had no idea how to effectively let go, sure that if I did, it would all fall apart. As a result, I was exhausted, and depleted. The work I had always loved was no longer fun. Then one of my friends, bless her heart, insisted I attend my first Women's Leadership Exchange conference. � At the opening of what for me was a daylong miracle that ushered in a Tsunami of positive change, I listened to the opening remarks by the charming, dynamic WLE co-founders, Leslie Grossman and Andrea March. What they said set the tone for the day. They earnestly exhorted all of us to keep an open mind, if just for today. They also gave us an assignment: to ask for help from at least three other women, and offer it to at least three other women. � Shortly thereafter, sitting at a big round table in the hotel ballroom, sharing breakfast with a group of interesting women, each a business owner, I thought about that assignment, to ask for help and to offer it. Suddenly I heard the echo of those words I had not heeded: 'If you don't ask, you don't get.' �We went around the table, taking turns answering the question, 'What do you do, and what do you need' When it was my turn, I said, 'I am a ghostwriter and have a public relations company. My passion is to help people birth their inner book and then promote it. What I need is...' I looked at the open, eager faces of the other women, all sincerely intent on my next words, and felt something open inside. 'Okay, what I need is...a lot. I need to learn how to not have to be in control all the time. I need to learn how to trust other people to do their jobs. I also need to know how to find more good people to work with me, and then how to keep them fulfilled and productive. I also need to put better systems in place so that I am better organized, use my funds more intelligently, and grow my business beyond the point it is at now. And most of all, what I am beginning to see today is that I need to get out more and network with other women, like all of you.' � The day just kept getting better. I can't wait for the next New York Women's Leadership Exchange Conference - www.womensleadershipexchange.com - � on July 21st, with 150 incredible women expected, and a Who's Who of incredible speakers, honorees, Growth Gurus, �and SpeedCoaches, each sharing her special wisdom. � My Grandmother will be with me that day, and she will be very proud of all of us fabulous women, asking -- and getting!.....Judy Katz, Katz Creative, Public Relations, Book Collaboration and Ghostwriting Services -- �www.ghostbooksters.com

Authenticity: How Women (and Men) Can Win in 2.0 Business World

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:55:06 -0400

I had the pleasure of speaking at the informative Bubble2Boardroom Conference in NYC last week - produced by top career development coach Dani Ticktin Koplik and held in the rather stodgy NY Athletic Club. The Club, which used to be "men only", has not only opened its doors to allow women, but seems to have 'slightly' loosened the reins on its strict rules. When a historic club like NYAC shows flexibility, it's a sign that the business world is changing. I say this from experience. My college intern Eric was stopped at the door of the club, because he was wearing athletic shoes, not dress shoes, along with his button down white shirt, pants and tie. When Eric informed the doorman that he was attending a forum for college students to learn the ropes to get a job, and begged for entry, he relented and allowed him entry. I took this as a sign of the changing times and told Eric that this was a learning moment about calling head, reading the rules at Clubs, etc. and not accepting 'no'.

That brings me to my focus on 'authenticity'. One of the speakers focused on etiquette - a very important topic for job seekers. I touched on it as well in my talk on Building your Entourage for Professional Success - the importance of thank you's, listening actively, offering support to the other person, etc. It's essential to get connected in this world. The speaker's advice on how to dress for the interview applied to the true establishment corporate world - not necessarily to the new 2.0 business world - which dominates business and jobs today.

The Apple and Google worlds of entrepreneurs, start-ups, and Internet companies are taking over. The traditional dark suit, white shirt and tie companies are dying or are changing in order to welcome the new generation and keep top young leaders. Is it a no-no to have a tattoo today? Not necessarily, especially if the boss has one. Should you dress very conservatively? Not necessarily, if the boss doesn't. In fact, you may look too uptight. What is key is that you match the company and person who is judging you. And most important, you need to show some of the authentic you. Because, if some of the authentic you isn't present at the interview, you may be really sorry, after you're hired. There is a fine line between being 100% authentic and getting the job - and job seekers need to tread this line carefully. It requires research of company policies, and perhaps connecting with others who work there (LinkedIn makes this easy). To play it safe, dress flexibly. Bring a jacket, but take it off at the interview, if you see it doesn't fit in - and this goes for gals as well as guys.

For entrepreneurs and start-ups, Gwen Edwards of Golden Seeds, has some great advice, especially when pitching for dollars. Take a quick read. At the Women's Leadership Exchange conferences - authenticity - is about presenting the authentic you - which is constantly becoming smarter and more insightful. It comes from continually learning from other business owners and experts and women supporting each other, which means attending top notch events. The NYC conference themed "Go for Growth' is July 21 and then will be in Chicago, Minneapolis and Phoenix in the coming months of 2011.......Leslie Grossman, Women's Leadership Exchange, Cofounder

Authenticity: How Women (and Men) Can Win in 2.0 Business World

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:57:32 -0400

Authenticity: How Women (and Men) Can Win in 2.0 Business World

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 09:17:07 -0400

Two Women Leaders from Different Worlds Face-Off

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:49:00 -0400

Dark clouds threatened as I entered the Rubin Museum in New York City on June first to hear two icons from two very different worlds –Gloria Steinem, the writer, activist and leader of the feminist movement, and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who at the age of 20 became one of the first westerners to be ordained as a Buddhist Nun. In 2000, she started the first Buddhist Nunnery for girls. Gloria Steinem not only changed the lives of an entire generation of women, she opened up new possibilities for all and inspired thousands to become activists for social justice. Two women from two different worlds were about to have a conversation on the stage of the Rubin Museum’s auditorium. I wondered what it would be like as I went down the circular staircase into the auditorium deep below the museum. Why were they speaking together? As I proceeded to my seat in the second row, I saw that in the first row, Jetsunma was in the seat on the far left and Gloria was in the seat on the far right – separated by about 18 seats, like fighters on the opposite sides of the ring. On the stage were two chairs with no third chair for a moderator. Was this going to be a confrontation? From the moment the women took to the stage, sat down on their assigned seats, and began to speak it was clear that I had nothing to worry about. It was not a confrontation, but a cozy conversation between 2 women who have experienced life quite differently. Steinem, always confident, gently took on the role of interviewer, since it was clear that Jetsunma was not comfortable initiating. It was also clear that Steinem is centuries ahead of Jetsunma in terms of changing the world. I don’t mean to show disrespect for Jetsunma. After all until she started the first Buddhist Nunnery, there was no place for women to go to study and practice this ancient religion. She created an extraordinary shift in Buddhism. Here’s a highlight of their conversation. Jetsunma pointed out that the monks are financed by donations from women, who do not choose to give funds to the nunnery. She conjectured, “ women don’t respect women as much as the male authorities. Why is this?” Steinem pointed out that, ”This is a phenomenon of oppression. When women believe and internalize their own inferiority, they get angry at other women, and don’t support them.” Her antidote to change this: get women to talk to each other about their feelings. She went on to say that ‘taking on blame is a feminine thing – women often think’ it must be my fault’, when things don’t go their way.” Steinem added, “When we honor other women, we are truly honoring ourselves.” These are words for women to live by in and out of a nunnery. And perhaps answers my original question of “why were they speaking together?” These are two women from two different worlds – respecting themselves and each other. Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange

The Party is Just Starting for UN Women

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:38:05 -0500

The launch of UN Women in the UN General Assembly Hall this week, February 24th, felt like a celebration. There was indeed a reason to celebrate. Who wouldn’t celebrate the vision set forth by the United Nations for global gender equality and the empowerment of women. The leaders and celebrities participating in the program were impressive. Hosted by former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, energized in her new roles as UN Women’s Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary General, the speakers ranged from top UN dignitaries to celebrities live and on video, including Geena Davis, Nicole Kidman and Shakira, among others. Ted Turner, who founded the UN Foundation with $1 billion in 1997 made a rare appearance. Here’s hoping the Foundation will make a major contribution to UN Women. According to UN Women, $500 million is needed to run the program in the first year alone. The goal is ending discrimination against women. It’s money well spent, since countries with greater gender equality have economies that are far more competitive and grow faster, as shown through research in 114 countries by the Global Gender Report, World Economic Forum, 2010.

While I was basking in the hopeful optimism of the UN Women launch, I glanced at my Blackberry and noticed at least 5 emails regarding Congressional anti-women activity bubbling up like a volcano on Capitol Hill. Was I in parallel worlds? Which world was reality? Our very own Congress, specifically the Republican leadership, is threatening to take away women’s liberties in healthcare and reproductive health services. This includes women’s right to access lifesaving medical care. In fact they want to slash all funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest provider of family planning services, and for roughly 60 percent of their patients, PP serves as primary care physicians. For the gorey details read what Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has to say in her blog http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-carolyn-maloney/acts-of-outrage-indiffere_b_827574.html. If there is no gender equality here in the U.S., how can we possibly expect it in the rest of the world? Are we the example for the world to follow? If so, UN Women and US women - we’re in big trouble. Now that the celebration is over, we have to face the fact that there is enormous work required, attitudes that must be changed, a Congress to educate, and money to be raised, to mention only a few of the tasks at hand in order to realize this goal of gender equality. As far as women go, we need to start with ourselves. How are we supporting the women in our life? Are we treating women with respect? Are we making women’s successes, healthcare, leadership, security, and economic empowerment a top priority? If not, the time to do it is now. If not now, we’ll leaving our work to future generations. .....Leslie Grossman, Women's Leadership Exchange

Courage Under Fire

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:03:13 -0500

These days people’s courage is surely being tested. It’s under fire. Courage could be one of the least appreciated leadership principles. I am truly inspired by how the citizens of the world are mustering up their courage on a daily basis to make change that impacts all of us. If you are in Egypt, you need courage to stand up for what you believe against the government. If you are in Tucson, you need courage to meet your Congressperson. If you are working in a corporation, you need courage to face each day, not knowing what business decisions are being made behind closed doors that will affect you, your family and your coworkers. If you are a business owner, you need courage to change your business model to meet the faced paced changes of today. If you are out of work, you need courage to get up each morning and put forth the energy and motivation to look for a job or determine what your next career will be. Last night I was struck dramatically by more courage. I saw the film "Gasland". I knew nothing about this film before I entered the doors of the Irvington Town Hall Theater, a turn of the century theater, up the road a piece from the Hudson River, in one of New York’s beautiful river towns, just a mile or so from my home. I had no plans to see this film. As fate would have it, a new friend and neighbor Carolyn Whittle, a courageous woman who breathes activism as most breath air, invited me to be part of a stimulating evening which included viewing this film. I knew I was in for something important, when Debra Winger, the actress, who produced the film, welcomed everyone before the film began. "Gasland" is no ordinary film. It is a documentary that tells the story of how the water and air of our country is being dangerously polluted in the name of replacing our dependency on foreign oil by natural gas. Just like ‘natural cosmetics’ turned out to be NOT necessarily good for one’s skin, this film tells the story of how the drilling technology of hydraulic fracturing or fracking, to unlock the natural gas beneath us, is NOT GOOD – in fact, out right dangerous - to our health. Wyoming, Colorado, Texas and other states have permitted it, and citizens even welcomed it to their land, not knowing the dangers hidden behind the process. "Gasland", which has been nominated for an Academy Award, was created by Josh Fox, who recorded his road trip around the country interviewing affected families and experiencing himself the environmental changes occurring in the states prevalent with fracking. Fox first became interested in the subject of natural gas back in 2008 after the Pennsylvania native was asked to lease his land in Milanville for drilling and earn $100,000 in return. Instead of signing, he began investigating. The film shows people and animals who have become sick all over the country due to this process which has made the water unsafe to drink – and the air, often putrid to smell. We can anticipate the long term affects of drinking and breathing the water and air which is infested with dangerous chemicals that are used in the fracking process. It’s just to soon to see the ultimate impact. To date neither most governments nor the EPA has protected us from this process. As of today, New York is the only state in the country to establish a moratorium on horizontal hydrofracking. There is no doubt that without Fox’s documentary which has been aired on HBO, featured at the Sundance Film Festival (even won an award) and viewed by citizens all around the country in little cinemas, similar to the Irvington Town Hall, fracking would be taking place in more states and impacting more people. Not only do I recommend you see this film, but read the article in Scientific American - http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=shale-gas-and-hydraulic-fracturing to gain insights into the situation. Uncovering truths that the big natural gas companies like Halliburton, don’t want us to know, takes enormous courage. It takes courage for the individuals whose health, homes and families have been affected to speak out and be interviewed. And it will take even more courage on the part of all of us to ensure that we stop this ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ – natural gas drilling replacing our dependence on foreign oil. Hats off to Josh Fox, Debra Winger and all the brave people who ‘starred’ in "Gasland". I hope this film wins an Oscar, because it will bring this issue to the forefront. And again, it shows how the courage of one person can impact us all. Citizens of the world: arm yourselves! Arm yourselves with your courage. For it is the most powerful weapon of all – Leslie Grossman, cofounder, www.womensleadershipexchange.com and www.lesliegrossmanleadership.com Please note: Leslie Grossman’s blog is now featured on www.leadershipdigital.com, the best content on leadership and management.

Wear Red Feb. 4 - Show Your Colors!

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:22:24 -0500

Color sends a powerful message, especially when used in marketing or promoting ideas, products or services. Be aware that those Crayolas of childhood can be a weapon or a magic wand…predisposing us to accept or reject the messenger.

The color RED is particularly strong in sending messages. Symbolically, it can communicate many things and many conflicting ideas. I think of RED as the leadership color, but that can be good or bad. RED is the color of the heart, love, blood, romance, the STOP light and STOP sign. Fire engines are RED. So are burning hot flames, as well as passion and desire. Our face gets RED when we are upset or angry. But also, when we are embarrassed. RED is the color of Kings, Queens and Knights. But it’s also the color of warriors. The RED carpet is the ultimate walkway for all royalty, including the stars of film and TV who don’t always represent the elegance of the monarchy. Businessmen wear RED ties to symbolize power. Women leaders wear RED power suits to get attention and make a statement Nancy Pelosi wore RED often as Speaker of the House, and wore it well. This month, the month of February, let’s all wear RED to attract all good things and show enthusiasm and confidence. Wear RED on Friday, Feb. 4th, National Wear RED Day. The American Heart Association created Go Red For Women to dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women. It’s a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health. So ladies, pull your RED suits, dresses, pants and jackets out of your closet. I promise it will warm up your body and your heart on these cold, blustery, snowy days of winter (especially in the Northeast) and send a powerful message to other women to take care of their heart health. Remember: we can’t take care of others, if we don’t take care of ourselves. And guys, put on those RED neckties or sweaters and support the women in your lives to send the same message. Then continue wearing RED all month long to celebrate Valentines Day on Feb. 14th and Chinese New Year Feb. 3 – 17th ( after all, RED is the color of prosperity, fortune and luck). Learn more about the Go Red for Women program at www.goredforwomen.org. Encourage your employees and coworkers to wear RED Feb. 4th and all month long. Together, maybe we can warm up the weather and move on to Spring! …..Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women’s Leadership Exchange, www.womensleadershipexchange.com

Yes, Virginia, You Can Get Business with Social Media

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 05:37:52 -0500

Now I'm convinced. After attending the Women's Leadership Exchange Conference in NYC this week - yes, our very own conference - I heard enough from experts and REAL business owners to know that social media marketing is a critical part of the integrated marketing strategy. It needs to be added to the marketing mix like advertising and PR. But you need to know how! The speakers at the conference which included business owners like Michelle Madhok, CEO of SheFinds.com, Amanda Neville of Thinkso and Christine Dyer, founder of Bridaltweet.com and who holds the double position as Social Media Marketing Director for American Express OPEN, convinced me. They have all grown their businesses - online and off, via social media marketing. Top that off by hearing from Wendi Caplan-Carroll about the amazing Social Media tools that ConstantContact has added to their arsenal for small business owners to make it easier, faster and smarter to incorporate it into your marketing - and I am convinced. And you should be, too. Perhaps you didn't know that this all started long before FACEBOOK and LinkedIN.

In fact, we can thank Laurel Touby, founder of mediabistro.com, who we honored with the WLE Compass Award at the NY Conference. Laurel started with connecting media pros via parties, took it online and created a monster for her industry - selling it just a few years ago for gazillions! Laurel is a writer who became an Internet millionaire, following her passion. Her story is amazing. And if that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.

If you were at the conference, you know I speak the truth. But if you weren't there, I have good news for you. There are 2 more conferences next week: 12/7 in LA and 12/8 in Fort Lauderdale, where you can learn the low-cost tactics and strategies to apply to YOUR business. We have great experts and business owners sharing their own Social Media Marketing success stories. All info is at www.womensleadershipexchange.com. And use the code: SOCIAL and you can save $10 off the registration price. Your business needs this information and it won't get it unless you commit at least 1/2 day learning. And by the way, thank heavens there are great companies, who are equally committed to the growth of our companies to make this possible. Thank you to American Express OPEN, MetLife and ConstantContact.........Leslie Grossman

Small Business Saturday: Join the Movement to Drive Business to Small Business:

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 03:56:03 -0500

No matter how much we have been impacted by the economy, we’ll all be out shopping for holiday gifts. But before you match your shopping list to your choice of retailers – online and off – think about how your purchases will impact the economy.

Small business is the lifeline of our local economies. Small businesses have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade; and represent 99.7 % of all employer firms (according to the SBA). In fact, for every $100 spent in locally-owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through local taxes, payroll and other expenditures (according to 3/50 Project). Knowing these facts, I was particularly excited to learn about the launch of a national movement to help build business for local merchants across the US – Small Business Saturday on November 27th. Launched by American Express OPEN, the division devoted to small business owners and partner to many small business associations, including Women’s Leadership Exchange, Small Business Saturday has the power to truly improve the financial picture for small businesses, the acknowledged driver of the economy. With this first-ever Small Business Saturday, finally someone is paying attention to small business. The last two years have been frustrating for small businesses, seeing the big fish get rescued, while we minnows are left without a lifeline in the stormy sea. The economy has been a B Movie with bad reviews by the critics and no one buying tickets. The election results proved how the public feels about the lack of initiative taken by our government to help small business. Worse yet, small businesses continue to experience great difficulty in getting the capital needed to trudge through this storm. A recent study by American Express found that the recession hit small business owners harder than their larger counterparts. Consumer spending dropped more at small businesses relative to larger businesses. Small business lost market share, and are still 4% below the share they held before the recession. It’s time we all think before we shop. Think about how we can help small business and help our economy. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday drive sales to national chains and online retailers, Small Business Saturday recognizes the importance of small, independently owned businesses to the overall economy and local communities. Small Business Saturday on November 27th is a day for all of us to support the small businesses that we care about. A day to celebrate the small businesses that boost our local economies and preserve our neighborhood character. So join me and Women’s Leadership Exchange to commit to shop locally and small on November 27th. And thank you to American Express for coming up with this concept. I believe we can all “do well by doing good” so l urge you to join this national movement and urge everyone you know to join as well. ….Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women’s Leadership Exchange .

Are you Voting for the Women?

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:06:16 -0400

In one of the most contentious political years ever remembered (by me), we have tea parties shouting down latte drinkers, broadcast’icons’ blasting lies and innuendos over the airwaves and politicians and supporters riling up hundreds of thousands through accusations never proven. Some may consider this exciting. But for me it’s exhausting. Every morning I go to my place of Zen to avoid the emotional roller coaster that is in my face when trying to get the news of the day from the multiple sources of media attacking eyes and ears and brain simultaneously. It truly is a battlefield to the senses. As the cofounder of a women’s program, with the vision to create more women leaders in the world, I have one area of satisfaction with today’s political scene. More women than ever are running for political office. More women are standing up to be counted and have determined that they are willing to to put themselves out there to make real change in the way our government is being lead. In addition, More women are spending their own money to do this. For perhaps the first time, more women candidates actually have the big bucks. They have earned those millions as leaders of their own companies, like Linda McMahon running for Senate in Connecticut, or former CEOs of corporations, Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for Governor, and Cary Fiorina, Republican candidate for Senator, both in California. That alone is cause for celebration, because that is progress. Now here comes the hard part for me personally, and perhaps for other feminists. We have worked hard to move women up the ladder of success and to get more women to run for higher political office. Finally it is happening. Do we support the women – simply because they are women – or do we choose the candidate we believe will do the best job? And if we choose to support the best candidate, and we believe it is the male candidate, how vocal should we be? It’s a puzzlement! In the old days, ten years ago, I never really thought about this, because who knew we would actually live to see this. I’m delighted and excited and perplexed simultaneously. It was a no-brainer for me when Hillary ran for office. But now I am filled with angst because the formula is changing. The 3 women I referenced also come with caveats. None of them have any former political experience. All used their own big bucks to run their campaigns. . They have never held any office on any level. Now this in itself is not exclusive to women. Many men have used their personal coffers to run for political office and, some have done a good job. Men like Mike Bloomberg: he runs NYC like an effective corporation. And it has worked, Does one run a state like a company? Can you serve effectively in the Senate, if you have never collaborated in the past? I guess, what I have come to realize is that if women are going to play in the same sports and the same fields as the guys, we are going to begin to play the way they do. We will win some, we will lose some and that means we have finally arrived. Election day is tomorrow. So follow your intuition. Vote for whom you think will do the best job for your local government, your state and your country. Let’s hope that all of us believe that many of those people, who we believe will do the best job, are women! Afterall, we tend to be very good listeners. Now let’s prove that we can take the actions necessary to move our nation forward.! ……Leslie Grossman, cofounder Women’s Leadership Exchange

Relief At Last? Small Business Jobs Act Signed by President

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:38:33 -0400

The top 10 songs for small businesses may be changing. Up until now, the most popular song was the Rolling Stones’ "I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. This week it may be “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus.

Throughout this recession, America’s small businesses have found it difficult to get credit. It’s true that the government allocated stimulus money through the Small Business Administration (SBA) early on, but few banks were in a lending mood. With the President’s signing of the Small Business Jobs Act this week, that is expected to change.

There’s more good news: there are more additional benefits for small businesses in this law, including 16 tax cuts. For the first time, in a long time, small businesses have a reason to be hopeful. And so does America. Because it’s a known fact that small businesses produce most of the new jobs in this country.

The bill includes a series of small business proposals that the President put forth earlier this year, and small businesses will start benefiting from the bill on day one. If you missed the media last week, I wanted to share some of the top benefits to small businesses so you can consider taking advantage of them:

Extension of Successful SBA Recovery Loan Provisions —Immediately Supporting Loans to Over 1,400 Small Businesses: With funds provided in the bill, SBA will begin funding new Recovery loans within a few days of the President’s signature, starting with the more than 1,400 businesses – with loans totaling more than $730 million – that are waiting in the Recovery Loan Queue

Doubling of the Maximum Loan Size for The Largest SBA Programs: The bill also increases the maximum loan size for SBA loan programs, which in the coming weeks will allow more small businesses to access more credit to allow them to expand and create new jobs. The bill will permanently raise the maximum size for SBA’s two largest loan programs, increasing the maximum 7(a) and 504 loans from $2 million to $5 million, and the maximum 504 manufacturing related loan from $4 million to $5.5 million.

A New $30 Billion Small Business Lending Fund: The bill would establish a new $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund which – by providing capital to small banks with incentives to increase small business lending – could support several multiples of that amount in new credit.

An Initiative to Strengthen Innovative State Small Business Programs – Supporting Over $15 Billion in Lending: The bill will support at least $15 billion in small business lending through a new State Small Business Credit Initiative, strengthening state small business programs that leverage private-sector lenders to extend additional credit – many of which have been forced to cut back due to budget cuts.

Eight New Small Business Tax Cuts – Effective Immediately, Providing Immediate Incentives to Invest: The President had already signed into law eight small business tax cuts, and on Monday, he is signing into law another eight new tax cuts that go into effect immediately.

Zero Taxes on Capital Gains from Key Small Business Investments: Under the Recovery Act, 75 percent of capital gains on key small business investments this year were excluded from taxes. The Small Business Jobs Act temporarily puts in place for the rest of 2010 a provision called for by the President – elimination of all capital gains taxes on these investments if held for five years. Over one million small businesses are eligible to receive investments this year that, if held for five years or longer, could be completely excluded from any capital gains taxation.

Extension and Expansion of Small Businesses’ Ability to Immediately Expense Capital Investments: The bill increases for 2010 and 2011 the amount of investments that businesses would be eligible to immediately write off to $500,000, while raising the level of investments at which the write-off phases out to $2 million. Prior to the passage of the bill, the expensing limit would have been $250,000 this year, and only $25,000 next year. This provision means that 4.5 million small businesses and individuals will be able to make new business investments today and know that they will earn a larger break on their taxes for this year.

Extension of 50% Bonus Depreciation: The bill extends – as the President proposed in his budget – a Recovery Act provision for 50 percent “bonus depreciation” through 2010, providing 2 million businesses, large and small, with the ability to make new investments today and know they can receive a tax cut for this year by accelerating the rate at which they deduct capital expenditures.

A New Deduction of Health Insurance Costs for Self-Employed: The bill allows 2 million self-employed to know that on their taxes for this year, they can get a deduction for the cost of health insurance for themselves and their family members in calculating their self-employment taxes. This provision is estimated to provide over $1.9 billion in tax cuts for these entrepreneurs.

An Increase in the Deduction for Entrepreneurs’ Start-Up Expenses: The bill temporarily increases the amount of start-up expenditures entrepreneurs can deduct from their taxes for this year from $5,000 to $10,000 (with a phase-out threshold of $60,000 in expenditures), offering an immediate incentive .for someone with a new business idea to invest in starting up a new small business today.

A Five-Year Carryback Of General Business Credits: The bill would allow certain small businesses to “carry back” their general business credits to offset five years of taxes – providing them with a break on their taxes for this year – while also allowing these credits to offset the Alternative Minimum Tax, reducing taxes for these small businesses.

Limitations on Penalties for Errors in Tax Reporting That Disproportionately Affect Small Business: The bill would change, beginning this year, the penalty for failing to report certain tax transactions from a fixed dollar amount – which was criticized for imposing a disproportionately large penalty on small businesses in certain circumstances – to a percentage of the tax benefits from the transaction.

What's Happened to America? Huffington's "Third World America" Warns of the Worst and Offers Solutions - Share Your Story at http://huff.to/cWPOHj - Help America & Small Businesses!

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:06:01 -0400

Here I sit, working on the weekend, as usual. (It takes 24/7 to keep going in 2010.) But today I’m not doing my normal work. I’m reading Arianna Huffington’s latest book “Third World America,” which is riveting. Reading this book is like reading a dramatic fictional best-seller. But unfortunately, it is non-fiction. Arianna documents how America got in the current economic mess, with flashbacks into historic recessions and how leaders were able to turn them around.

I have to be honest, the first half of the book is depressing. But what’s even more depressing is to live this recession. So if you are one of the lucky ones who hasn’t been impacted, I’d personally like to make “Third World America” required reading for you to keep your citizenship - And that includes politicians who are running for office. If you have been impacted by this recession like “tens of millions of hardworking Americans”, after you read this book you will be compelled to join your fellow citizens to shout out to the politicians who have abandoned this country. And if you are a small business owner, you should be particularly outspoken. Not only has the middle class been abandoned, but small business, the acknowledged driver of the economy, has been ignored. While Arianna shares the statistics from TARP that tell us that “one in five Americans is unemployed, underemployed or just plain out of work…one in eight mortgages is in default or foreclosure…and more than 120,000 families are filing for bankruptcy every month”, she goes much deeper sharing personal tragedies that bring this recession to life. I haven’t been able to find out how many small businesses have gone under or are hanging on by a thread. But I know many are pretending that everything is ‘okay’ in the hope they can turn things around. Of course, while the government gave full financial support to the banks, few banks have used those funds to help small businesses. Nor has the government. Now for the good news! Arianna offers up a compendium of ideas, many pursued recently by leaders outside the establishment. But one of her best ideas is for us to share our stories, our ideas – both our tragedies and our successes. – how Americans are helping each other with our personal and our business crises. As Americans we need those stories to keep us going, to share our survival and our support with each other. Share your story of struggle or success with Arianna and The Huffingon Post: http://huff.to/cWPOHj It will have an impact on others and will help our public servants understand how real people are being affected by this economic fiasco.. Submit text, pictures or video -- and share how you and your business have been affected by the financial crisis. How are you bouncing back? What are you doing to help prevent America from ever becoming a Third World nation? Forward to friends and associates to share heir stories, too. http://huff.to/cWPOHj …Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, www.womensleadershipexchange.com, Author, SELLsation!

"Big Brother" Proves Bully Bosses Don't Win on TV or in the Office

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:37:05 -0400

It’s a little embarrassing to share my addiction to “Big Brother” – the summer reality show on CBS that drops 14 strangers or houseguests into a fake house on a TV set for 3 months to compete for a $500,000 prize. �I could blame my addiction on my husband, but I have to admit I’m hooked. It can be considered mindless entertainment, but believe it or not, Big Brother is loaded with what �‘to do’ and what ‘not to do’, if you want to be a successful leader �and win! � I especially love last week’s dramatic episode where Rachel, the brilliant chemist from Las Vegas, who looks like an over-cosmetized “girl with big boobs” by her own description, gets evicted. �She is a terrific competitor, has won several HOH competitions and is in a showmance with Brendon, who has a PhD in Physics, but who is a high school swim coach (try to figure that one out). Their strategy to win was more like “you and me against the world” and it certainly didn’t work. � � But I want to focus on Rachel, who I believe had the smarts and drive to win, but her leadership style caused her to be a loser. In my opinion, three of most important characteristics of successful leaders – and winners – are communication, collaboration and courage. �Rachel failed at all but courage. �Her communication style was aggressive and dishonest and she never truly listened �to what one person said to her. Her collaboration was limited to her showmance partner. � In addition, she was a stereotype of the worst kind of woman leader in the workplace – the female bully boss. Rachel was against all the women in the house – pretty much assuming they were all weak players – and undermining them at every opportunity. �She cried when she didn’t get her way, and demanded apologies from the women if they showed enthusiasm for their own victories over her (rare as they were). �� Rachel pretty much displays all the characteristics of a bully boss - verbally abusing her competitors, attempting to humiliate them in public, putting others down with snide remarks and harsh, repetitive, and unfair criticism. I’m sure it makes for good TV and higher ratings. �However, if you’ve ever experienced a bully boss at work you know how excruciating it can be. I was actually contemplating giving up my secret summer pleasure to avoid the pain I was feeling, just by observing Rachel in action on TV. � Fortunately, the Big Brother houseguests gathered their courage and booted her off the show and good triumphed over evil. �Pop culture can sometimes be a valuable teacher, especially in the summer, when it’s too hot to go outside. Reality shows like “Big Brother” can offer a respite from the weather, but not necessarily from office politics and leadership snafus. --- Leslie Grossman, cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange, www.womensleadershipexchange.com, www.sellsationbook.com �

What Business Women Can Learn from George Steinbrenner

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:29:37 -0400

Yes, I am a Yankee fan. I follow every game. I read the sports page. Well at least the stories about the Yankees. I love the players. And I have always been fascinated by George Steinbrenner, owner of the most successful franchise in baseball history., the Yankees. His passing this week truly saddened me. He was a man that left a true legacy. A man from which women leaders can learn a bit about leadership.

Most women don’t know much about George, but sports fans either loved him or hated him. Mostly hated him. Some of it was jealousy. George is accused by competitive teams and fans of changing baseball by using his financial power to buy and keep great players. This strategy continued a Yankee tradition started in the 1920s, long before George bought the team. And why not? Major league baseball is not only a sport, it is a business. There are many stories about George. Stories about his temper, his conniving ways, his firing, rehiring of managers, particularly Billy Martin, all these making him a colorful character and a questionable leader. But he adored most of his players and was a generous giver to charities and people who were in trouble and needed his monetary support - usually doing this quietly without recognition. He was also willing to step out of his comfort zone in business, like when he was part of an investment group that created the YES network in 2005, which has become the number one regional sports network.. He was a “bad” boy, too. Banned from major league baseball twice – once for making illegal campaign contributions . Afterwards, he was back stronger then ever. You may ask, what can women possibly learn from this man, whose life was quite controversial? Sure he was rich. Sure he was powerful, but so what? Here’s what women leaders, and men, too, can learn from George Steinbrenner: #1. Stop trying to be perfect. There are no perfect leaders. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s part of life and it’s part of doing business. #2 Forgive yourself. We women tend to beat ourselves up. We often focus on the mistakes we make, rather than what we do right. Get over it. George was ‘humiliated” in the media, but he never let it stop him. He forgave himself and moved forward with his beliefs of how to run a team, which earned him and his investors financial rewards and the fans the joy of winning often. #3. Be generous. Be willing to pay good people what they are worth and more to recruit them and keep them on your team. And get the best people you can afford. Treat the good ones well and get rid of the others, quickly. Women tend to keep underperforming people too long. #4. Stop trying to be liked by everyone. You can’t be a good leader and have everyone like you. If they do, you are playing it too safe. #5. Support the causes you believe in. If you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it in diamonds and fashions. Flaunt it by quietly giving to causes that will make the world a better place for people to live happier, healthier lives. Support the candidates that you believe will change the world. When you are successful, that’s part of your responsibility. Thank you, George. Thanks for the lessons you have taught us and for the dedication you have shared. You left your mark on sports history. You have inspired so many of us – not just men, but also women. ……Leslie Grossman, cofounder, Women’s Leadership Exchange, author,”SELLsation!”

What is Your New Business Model for 2010?

Sun, 16 May 2010 21:39:11 -0400

For many of us in the world of business, and particularly business owners and leaders, 2009 was a year to which we are thrilled to say "adieu." Now that we're 4 months past it, I can stop being angry at 2009, and take a moment to say thank you for all that I learned from it. I don't know about you, but I've gathered up all that learning and am applying it to our business in the new decade. What did I learn? Most important of all - I learned to be willing to change my company's business model. What worked in the '90's, most likely may not work in the new decade. So take a hard look at your market. Do research on what your target audience wants and be willing to really shake up your business. 2009 was about reducing costs and staying in business. 2010 is about growing the business. In many cases, that may require a new business model, or at the very least, a new way of doing business. What is my company's new business model? Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) - a company known for its live conferences since 2002, is presenting the first Virtual Summit for Women Business Owners and Professionals, www.womensleadershipexchange.com (and men can attend, too) on Wednesday, May 26. How did we arrive at the decision to change our business model? First, the technology has finally arrived to the point that we can deliver everything we have at live conferences virtually in streaming video - right to your own PC or Mac. Second, businesses are looking to save on expenses. So if my company can deliver to our audience valuable keynotes, workshops, networking, resources and exhibits on our customers' computers, they save time and save money - two things that are in low supply these days. Business owners can use those bucks they would have used on fees, travel and parking to invest in their own businesses. Third, business owners have no time. They are multi-tasking like crazy. The virtual format enables us to archive the conference content so that our attendees can go back after the event and listen and see it again as often as they want. Once a live event is over, it's over and if you missed hearing something, it's gone forever. But at the WLE Virtual Summit, you can replay the speeches, etc. and remind yourself and your team about all the great information you learned or didn't get to hear the first time. The fourth reason we decided to change our business model is that a Virtual Summit is NEW and exciting. It gives us something new to talk about - it's a great opportunity for PR. By the way, the WLE Virtual Summit is being keynoted by Arianna Huffington, who created a new business model herself - The Huffington Post. So the theme of the virtual conference "A New Way of Doing Business" is kicked off by a leader who embraces change and doing things differently. And it's closed by our favorite futurist, Edie Weiner, who helps us look beyond 2010 and into the future for our businesses. So what's your new business model? What are you doing differently? Please share, so we can all learn from each other!! Tell us what you are doing and maybe we'll invite you to share your story at the next WLE Virtual Summit. In the meantime, learn all you can by attending WLE's new business model - The WLE Virtual Summit - coming to your computer in streaming video on May 26th - and archived for 3 months so you can watch it again and again. I promise you that if you register and experience the WLE new business model and give me feedback, I will do the same for you. And isn't that what's it all about? Women supporting women in their new ventures!! See you at the Summit.....Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, WLE

Women's History Month: Acknowledging Six Women Named Alice

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:44:49 -0400

Recently I went to see Tim Burton's film "Alice In Wonderland." Much has been written about the Johnny Depp - Tim Burton collaboration, the film's record-breaking $116 million debut, and its 3D presentation. But little has been written about Alice, After all, isn't "Alice in Wonderland" all about Alice? Linda Wooverton wrote an inspired screenplay that glorifies Alice's independence, her adventurous nature, courage and what the script calls her muchness. What a mysterious and wonderful word - muchness. So what about Alice and her muchness? In Disney's 2010 screenplay Alice delays accepting a marriage proposal to the son of her late father's wealthy business partner, publicly made in front of several hundred expectant guests. Instead she opts to pursue her "dream" by bolting the scene to follow a white rabbit right down what seems to be a never-ending rabbit hole. When she finally lands in a splat, she begins a thrilling journey in Underland to find her own destiny. Along the way, she meets the usual White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar and the unusual Mad Hatter played by Johnny Depp. After much colorful adventure, she eventually rediscovers her muchness by courageously fighting the Jabberwocky dragon and ending the terrorizing rule of the Queen of Hearts. Without giving away the "new" conclusion, in the event you haven't yet seen the film, trust me when I say, that this Alice is an inspiration to girls and young women everywhere! So take your daughters, nieces, and all the little girls you know and don't know (www.Commonsensemedia.com says over age 10) to see this film. It's exciting to see a girl portrayed in all her femininity, show courage and chutzpa, and has as the Mad Hatter calls it - muchness.. This Alice and her rediscovery of her "muchness" so inspired me, that I became curious about other women named Alice who were in touch with their muchness. The first Alice that popped into my head was Alice Walker, the African American novelist and Pulitzer Prize winning author of the "The Color Purple." Alice Walker certainly has muchness. Then I thought of Alice of "Alice's Restaurant" fame and Alice Cooper - but they weren't the kind of Alice's I was looking for. Then I remembered Alice Paul (1885 - 1977), who helped women in America gain the right to vote. Her vision was that women and men should be equal partners in society. She is credited as one of the leading figures responsible for the passage of the 19th Amendment (woman suffrage) to the U.S. Constitution. In her honor, the Equal Rights Amendment was sometimes called the Alice Paul Amendment. Wow! Alice Paul certainly lived a life of muchness. For a woman with muchness, we don't know much about her. Learn more at www.alicepaul.org. Since I couldn't think of any other famous women named Alice. I started researching. I was delighted with the women I found. There was Alice Stone Blackwell (1857- 1950) who said, "Justice is better than chivalry if we can't have both." That was profound and certainly revealed her muchness. It turns out that Alice Stone Blackwell was the daughter of Lucy Stone and Henry Browne Blackwell, who were both abolitionists and predecessors of Alice Paul in the Suffrage Movement. Upon her mother's passing Alice Stone Blackwell took on her role as the editor of the Women's Journal and continued her legacy as a women's rights advocate. Then there was Alice Dunbar Nelson(1875 - 1935), a writer, poet, educator and activist in the Harlem Renaissance. Though the daughter of a former slave, Alice was highly educated, married several times, and campaigned for African American and women's rights. She had a successful career as a journalist and public speaker and was quite inspirational to women of all backgrounds. I also learned about Alice Duer Miller (1874 - 1942), a poet and novelist whose poem "The White Cliffs" when published in 1940 sold over 1 million copies, which ws unheard of for a book of verse. According to reports, it also had a great influence in bringing the US into World War II. Before writing that best-selling poem Miller dedicated herself to the problem of women's suffrage. She is the author of a satiric column in New York Tribune entitled "Are Women People?". In 1915 the column was collected in a book "Are Women People?"and later "Women are People! "(1917). Five women named Alice - and four of the five devoted their muchness to gaining women the right to vote. How interesting that the Alice of Burton's "Wonderland" was portrayed as a non-traditional woman - who showed the kind of courage and sense of adventure these five women named Alice demonstrated in real life. This kind of muchness will never be too much, don't you think? What other women named Alice comes to your mind, who are known for their muchness? Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day, It's a New Life For Small Business... and I'm Feeling Good

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:56:25 -0500

If you haven't listened to the song "Feeling Good" recorded by some of the greatest singers from Nina Simone to Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble,, it's time to go to You Tube and listen again. I'd like to make it the theme song for America's small businesses this year. President Obama's new focus on small business in his State of the Union address makes "a new dawn" possible. It took the Administration a year to finally figure out what most of us have known. America's economy is driven by small business. Where small business goes, so goes the country. And small business has been in a mess for the last two years and so has the country. So after focusing on the banks and healthcare since his inauguration, I'm hopeful that the President and the Congress is finally is going to help the people who can help the economy - the owners of America's small businesses - all 29.6 million of them, who are the biggest employers of Americans. The President mentioned "small businesses" 13 times in his State of the Union address. I'm going to assume that for year 2 of his presidency he is making small business growth a priority, which translates into creating jobs. The President proposed in the State of the Union (1) eliminating capital gains taxes on small business investments, (2) extending tax breaks for businesses who hire people, (3) re-directing 30 billion dollars in bank bailout money towards community banks for lending, and (4) a tax credit for all businesses to invest in new equipment. Two days after the State of the Union, the President got a little more specific while visiting a small business in Baltimore, MD, and announced the Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut, which will provide a $5,000 tax credit to over a million small businesses for every net new employee they hire, with other tax incentives for increasing wages. All of us small business owners are anxious to hear even more details of this program and then, of course, how fast this legislation will go into effect. Of course, we have the challenge of having a dysfunctional Congress, who has shown little leadership this past year. We have to pray that members of Congress will look within themselves and stop this ridiculous partisanship and be the leaders they were elected to be. Good leaders collaborate for the common good of their followers. They need to look at the total population of the U.S. and not just to the people who voted them into office. They need to come together for the common good and vote for jobs and economic growth and they need to do it fast. That means they have to stop insisting to be "right" every time and quickly move to help small business move ahead. They need to be an example of what leaders do to lead. Be courageous, listen to each other, and collaborate. If voters see a continuation of stupid politics and stubbornness, Congress deserves to be voted out - I don't care which party they represent. And if lawmakers work together and move us out of this economic atrocity, they all deserve to get reelected. So U.S. Congress, the small businesses of America challenge you to pass legislation which will create jobs and enable the small companies that drive the economy to do what they do so well. Then it will be "A new dawn, a new day, and a new life" for all Americans and we'll all be "feeling good." Leslie Grossman, Cofounder, Women's Leadership Exchange

A Dream of Change: Guest Blog from WLE Growth Guru Jewel Daniels

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:51:38 -0500

A DREAM OF CHANGE, A FUTURE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT…
ONLY ACHIEVED THROUGH A LIFE OF SERVICE

By Jewel Daniels

Thank you to the Martin Luther King Jr. observance day committee for allowing a me, a woman whose roots run through the south and across the waters of the Caribbean to find her way in the company of such phenomenal, giving and committed professionals.

It is a brisk and rainy morning, one of which many chose to stay home but you chose to be here. And for that, the committee, this community and I am most grateful.

Dr. King once said:

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

I believe that Brittany Strobert hit it dead-on when she coined this year’s theme a dream of change, a future of accomplishment.

I asked myself what makes a man create a mammoth of a dream so large that it encompasses his entire life while appearing so intangible yet with every word that fell from his lips and every precision step he took, he pursued his dream endlessly until there was no longer breath in his body?

I found my answer in the legacy of Dr. King’s DNA. The story is not often told that his roots in ministry came from his father king sr. Who earned a degree in theology and took over the reins of the infamous Ebenzer Baptist church from his father-in-law A. D. Williams after he died of a heart attack.

As a child, Dr. King watched his father participate in the fight against segregation with his efforts helping to put an end to Jim Crow laws in Georgia. He saw him be extremely active in the Baptist ministers’ union and rise to become president of the NAACP in Atlanta. Dr. King observed as his father stood up for the rights of oppressed people and as he assembled the community to pursue a better life. When Dr. King was just a teenager, back in the early 1940s, his father gave a speech and it was titled "goals toward which we should strive today as a minority group."

Wow, I had to pause and check the date of that speech because truly that topic could still be seen as relevant today. Dr. King – despite knowing the trials his father faced and he himself living through the confines of segregation and prejudice that ruled the days of his life, was able to elevate the legacy of his father’s work and translate it into a dream of change that would beckon us to work on achieving a future of even greater accomplishments.

Dr. King said an individual begins to live when he rises above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

In other words, there is no way for us to rise if the focus is on only one of us moving forward!

He also said “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Dr. King wrote many speeches and spoke before many people expressing what things mattered to him. They were:
• Liberty
• Spirituality
• Service
• Respect of person

So as we are gathered here today, it matters that we recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. lived a life of sacrifice so you and i could live a life of surplus

It matters that you take hold to all that is precious and unique about his dream…all that allows you to understand how to live beyond the dream and become a part of as his reality, a reality that says people of all shapes, sizes, hues, skills and faiths have the right to live freely, and that we demonstrate a respect for all mankind.

It matters that everyone be allowed to express their spirituality but we must be committed to a life of service…it matters that you work tirelessly to be the future of accomplishment that will continue to challenge this world to be better and more importantly challenge yourself to do more.

In life we are hosts to many roles any responsibilities. For me, i wear hats of wife, entrepreneur, community citizen, church minister and mother. This community has contributed toward my ability to raise a well-rounded 17-year-old young woman who will graduate from savannah arts academy. As she prepares to start the second phase of her life as a college student i have told her to live your best life. Study hard, learn much, enjoy life but make sure the life you design is one that means doing something for someone other than yourself.

Dr. King’s life was patterned by his belief that “the quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.”

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.

You see, while Dr. King had a legacy of strong men who laid the foundation for the path that he would follow, some of us look at our legacy trying to find the ultimate measure of what will be the design for our future success. And where there are some shortages it is easy to grab hold onto excuses that cause us to reach for the low hanging fruit. (rather than do like Dr. King and stretch beyond perceived limitations to achieve the seemingly impossible)

Today, I challenge you to recognize that the genes of kings and queens is all flowing through your DNA contributing to the mere fact that you have been selected to occupy the seats in this very room. Every life is designed for a profound purpose that requires us to all be leaders – regardless of your age, regardless of your race; despite your position in life and yes, even your title. Because many who have leadership titles don’t always demonstrate the attributes of being a leader.

Leaders like Dr. King, and like many of you in this room, rise to the occasion that separates them from those who will follow change and those who will effect change. Leaders, simply because they are called out, are subject to more attention, both good and bad. They are met with challenges and expected to tenaciously fight to achieve what is right and what is best.

Dr. King’s life was plagued with controversy and challenges, yet he pushed on. He was jailed and beaten, yet he found the energy to keep marching. He was lied on and doubted by many, yet he wrote another speech. He was threatened and cursed, yet he traveled to another city and rallied even more people. And on the eve before his death, he preached as if he knew his life would soon come to an end, yet he spoke saying how he was “pleased with just being able to do god’s will.”

So my question is:

When your time comes to be tested…to be challenged…perhaps to face a little bit of controversy….will the foundation you have nurtured be strong enough so that you can stand? And will the stand that you take be the measure of your faith, your principles and your moral beliefs?

While Dr. King’s dream of change is our living reality, we can only attain a future of accomplishment if we decide now which direction we will pursue. Choosing to do anything different leaves us vulnerable to a position that allows us to get swept up by anything the wind blows our way and we permit to land in our path.

In the year that Dr. King died i was just being born. In my years of growing up in Brooklyn, NY I experienced prejudice that had me and my best friend Diana Rodriguez running back to our middle school because we had been chased from away from a neighborhood pizzeria because of the color of our skin.

Some years later i would be one of two young black girls to be the first admitted into St. Joseph hill academy, an all girls private catholic school in Staten Island, NY. However, four years later, I would find the soul of who i would become in the classrooms, hallways, libraries and courtyards of Hampton University. A place where the darkness of my skin, the swagger of my hips and the strength of the women who had raised me would be much more appreciated, valued and treasured than anywhere else i had evr known.

But my journey would not end there. God would see me carried across the seas into the hands of a homogenous nation of South Koreans where I would become the first African American woman accepted to graduate school. And yet with all this, the extension of my journey would find it’s more challenges and my greatest triumphs between the swaying trees of the south - here in Savannah.

This is where I am living out this phase of my life – a phase of life that has called me to a life of liberty, spirituality, respect of person and service that are the core principles of dr. King’s dream of change.

When Dr. King accepted the Nobel Peace prize in Oslo, Norway (1964) he said:
Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in who's who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live -- men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization -- because these humble children of god were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake.

Life is funny, when i was living those experiences they were not all pleasant, yet i persevered. My life, your life, will be presented with challenges that demand sacrifice, suffering and struggle all in the name of service. It is only through this process that dreams of change are fostered and the reality of a future bright with unmeasurable accomplishment is achieved.

My message to you is: remain focused because the seeds you plant today - despite storms, trials and some tribulations – those seeds will bear fruit whose nectar will taste oh so sweet.

My challenge: for you, for me. For all of us, is to be accountable to lead and i believe we do this in two ways:

Live a life of success, which is measured by what you do for yourself

But more importantly,
To pursue a life of greatness, this is the proof of what you do for others - leaving this world in a condition better than which you found it.

Thank you and may god bless you always!
By Jewel Daniels