My Way or the Highway

It has come to my attention that some of the most succesful businesses are built on one simple principle, how not to run a business. Men like Bill Gates, the Facebook guy, the owners of my father's company all started this way. They knew how they were treated, what was being shoved down their throats, and how the only thing they wanted was to do the exact opposite. I have since learned that I want to do the same as those men. I want to run a business completely different than the one I was working for. I have said it a million times, but customer service and employee appreciation can take you a long way. Pay people for their hard work, make them know you see their contributions and dedication, and have the guts to be honest when things aren't working out. Do the same for your customers and you will be good as gold. Simple...right?

Survivor

Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left. ~Hubert Humphrey

I recently have stubmled upon a career change. I will soon be re-titling my blog, but haven't gotten that far yet. I moved back to Atlanta, and have since ended up back in the fashion industry. An industry I truly belong in. Along the way I hit a couple hundred speed bumps, had a boss that tried to tear me down, and another that turned out to be the fabulous person I always knew she was. I just want to thank that person for teaching me how business is supposed to be run.

The Value of Money

"Everyone has value if only to serve as a bad example"

As you may know from reading, I reference my dad quite a bit on here. He read all of the posts and decided I need to start writing more about myself. So here we go. I feel like I've grown quite a bit in the last 9 months. I have found the ground below my feet, I learned how to stand on that ground proudly, and I learned what I don't want out of my career. It's funny how just a few months, or days really, can show you exactly how you would run a business. Maybe I'm a little old-school, but I really feel like all businesses can be run very well when built on trust and relationships. If your employees can trust you, and your vendors feel like they have a great relationship with you, then what else can you ask for? When your word actually means something to someone you'll be fine at the end of the day. People buy from who they like, and they typically like someone who is the complete opposite of a cheesy car salesman. (Trust me...I'm buying a car this week and needed a shower after leaving the dealership!!) I know, that at the end of the day, when I'm stressed, need a wine bottle and a staw, and have several hours of more work in front of me, that I did the right thing. I didn't screw any of my vendors today, my temporary employees trust me that I'm doing everything I can to position them correctly in the job market, and my boss knows I gave my all to her. If you can foster this environment in your own business, you will not believe the results you get from your employees. But just know, building this environment is easy, getting rid of it will only hurt you. Ask my boss!

Oh Crap!

"I want to be the kind of woman that when I wake up each morning the devil says, 'Oh crap, she's up!'"

To be this kind of woman requires a couple of things. First, and probably most important, you need to wake up and trust that God is in control. He knows what is going to happen during the day, and nothing can change the outcome, we can only change the way we react. Second, I think you need to be the kind of woman that the people around you look up to. You strive to do what's right for the business, what's right for the people around you, what's right for all of your clients. By trusting in the first, the second comes naturally. Having both will allow you to have significance in the lives you touch.

Super Powers

"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others"
-Bill Gates

Great minds think alike I guess, because I have always been taught that empowering others is the mark of a great leader. My dad is that leader in his business, and I want to be that leader in mine. I feel fortunate that my business is putting people to work. It's giving people all of the right tools to succeed in their career endeavors. Personally, it makes you feel good at the end of the day when someone loves the job you found them. All I did was get their foot in the door, which is arguably the most difficult part in this economy. They had the skills, they had to impress the hiring manager, they had to sell themselves in the interview. But getting their foot in the door gave them all the confidence they needed from there. Hopefully I'm on the right track to follow in the footsteps my dad has laid for me. He empowered me to get to this point, and it's my goal to return the favor to everyone who steps foot through my office door.

Leap of Faith

Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along. ~Hugh Allen

I honestly think this is one of the hardest things to explain to a recent graduate, or someone who is just recently out of work. It makes so much since to wait, something will come along, they all just know it. Personally, I think the small steps you take are more important than the giant leap of faith. With each small step you will learn something new, have your eyes opened, learn of a path you couldn't see before. In sales, it's called networking. In operations, it's called strategic placement. Doesn't matter what you call it, just do it. Don't ever wait for the leap of faith, because the perfect opportunity will only take a tiny step. It will be that star you have been reaching for the whole time.

Connect-the-dots

"The keys to success: 1. Get up early, and stay late 2. Be able to speak to people on all levels of a corporation, and 3. Learn how to connect the dots" - my dad

My dad said this to me when I was too young to even understand why he was standing in line with all of the other dads waiting for the train into Chicago everyday. You can imagine I had no idea what he was talking about. My dad was a very significant person to all of the companies he worked for. From reading my previous blogs, you will know that that is much more important than being successful. He taught me all of these things growing up. Something about relationships, and then the one about the keys to success. For the first time in my life, I am beginning to understand the utter importance of these 3 keys. This has helped me more in life, and in work, than anyone can ever understand. I have to truly thank my dad for the wonderful life lessons he has taught me.

Success vs. Significance

The inner struggle between success and significance. What can I say? I want to be successful, who doesn't? In the long run though, isn't it more important to be significant? 50 years from now, no one will remember who was the CEO at BP that went yachting in the Meditterranean while the Gulf Coast was covered in oil. But don't you think they will remember the leader who stepped up and had a plan? The guy from BP who said this is unacceptable. We need to do the right thing, right? So what is the problem with wanting to be successful then? I personally think that chasing success is the problem, not the actual success. Running through your career with blinders on doesn't allow one to see the big picture. The leaders who can see the big picture are the ones who are the most successful in the moral game of life. The CEOs and founders of Google have it perfectly. They want their employees to enjoy work, they want to offer them an environment that no one else can, and they want it to be a big family. They have one of the lowest turnover rates in the country. But why did they do it? I have to think it's because they want to be a significant part of their employees lives. I want to be that person in my employees lives as well. I don't need them to remember my name, just that I was the person that helped them find work in one of the worst job markets in our nation's history. In time, I believe this mindset will do more for my career than a large paycheck ever could.

A Very Wise Man

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new" -Albert Einstein

A wise man once made a very wise comment. In fact, he made quite a few very wise comments. It's true, what he says, that you can't try new things without making mistakes. It takes a very wise person to understand the difference between mistakes and failures, and an even wiser person to know how to get back on one's own two feet after they have made a mistake. For, a mistake only turns to failure after you have refused to get back up and keep pushing forward. I can only hope to be the wisest of the two, and to keep pushing through the mistakes and the learning curve to be the best at my job that I can possibly be. For, I hope, you too will have aspirations to become the wisest and learn all that you can and be everything your dreams want you to be.

New State, New Job, New Life

Life's funny. You really never know where you are going to be, or where you will end up. I never thought I would ever live in Mass. I hate cold, think that winter is extremely unnecessary, and everyone is always crabby! Not attractive to a girl who loves the heat of summer and an ice cold tea on the front porch with family and friends. No matter though, because here I am. Gorgeous ring on my finger, new fiance, no apartment, and no job. That's when I found Ingrid. She owned the top staffing agency on the South Shore. I NEEDED her to help me find a job. I was really disappointed at first, she didn't find me anything, not even temp work. Then, 4 months later, she calls me up and says she wants to talk. Here is the break I've been looking for. A foot in the door at one of the companies she works with. However, I soon found out she wanted to hire me herself. Major score! My eyes were opened wide to the world of recruiting. Who knew? It's the perfect mix of sales, marketing, and just generally helping people out. I couldn't be happier!!