I've got a thing...

At the Marigold Forum last week we asked women to share a gem of wisdom that has changed their life. Many shared tips that they wished they had learned earlier.

Many of the comments surrounded saying no, taking control of her time, not over thinking and especially not over-explaining yourself.

June Palumbo, Ford Insurance took the prize for "The One Great Thing".

Her advice: When you need to end a phone conversation, end a meeting, leave the office, exit from a committee meeting (regardless of why) simply say "I need to go, I have a THING". Isn't that beautiful! I have a thing, no details, no making excuses for yourself, no anticipated judgment of your reason, just "I have to go now, I have a thing".

It could be a conference call with your number one client or a towel on the beach calling your name. Doesn't matter.

Thank you June!!!!!!!

Lesson Learned on the 3rd of July

With the nation's birthday falling on a Saturday this year, many of us were given Friday as a paid holiday. This was an inspiration to me. The 3-day weekend is a most glorious gift during a northern Michigan summer. Was it the glorious weather? Was it that the kids still had camp, making it a grown-up holiday? Whatever the source of the magic, I'm sold!

Instead of taking two week long vacations, I'm rearranging my schedule to take several summer Fridays off. I live here for the summers, so why not maximize the time spent enjoying it. Think about it!

Here are some options to 3 day weekends:

• If you are the boss, well, just do it!
• If you HAVE a boss, ask if you can squeeze an extra 8 hours into the first four days of the week. Just for 6 weeks of summer.
• Request a special project that you do off the clock in exchange for Fridays off.
• Offer to work 5 or 6 Saturdays or Sundays in the fall/winter.
  
• Take a week of vacation and make it 5 Fridays between now and Labor Day.
• Start complaining of mysterious symptoms of ill health around 3pm on Thursday afternoons. I think you get the idea. With any luck your co-workers will not recognize a pattern. Maybe space it out every 2 weeks.
• With fewer of us getting raises in this economy, negotiate summer Fridays off as compensation for your work.

Enjoy!

Future Women in Business

One of my greatest pleasures is speaking to groups of teenage girls on the matter of careers. Of the hundreds of young women I have met with, I've rarely heard, "I'd like to get my business degree", or "I want to start (or lead) a company that...".

I believe the reason is a lack of exposure to successful women in business.

Beginning in September of 2006, Marigold has hosted a group of female high school students to join us at Marigold Over Lunch. We call this: Future Women in Business. Juliette Schultz, owner of Spark! and Candie Conat, owner of Baskets Full of Gifts have underwritten the costs while Trish Fiebing, Volunteer Coordinator for TCAPS coordinates the selection of students, chaperones, transportation, etc...

We are looking for input and involvement of more women in business. If this issue speaks to you, and of course I hope that it does, please leave your comments here on what more you think we can do, on a volunteer basis to encourage young women to see greater possibilities for themselves. If you would like to be placed on a e-mail list for Future Women in Business advocates, click here.