Should You Play the Role of June Cleaver or Miranda Priestly to Win at Work?

(Editor’s Note: If you are offended by the b-word, you might want to click away from this article.  There are a few choice curse words within this lesson. You nice girls might get a little offended.)

Whether women should play the nice girl role or act like a bitch in business is a debate as old as time itself.

As an empowered career woman you want your own slice of Aretha’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T pie.

But, you don’t know as a business strategy whether you should unleash your inner female dog or let your nice girl run free.

As more women enter the executive suite in record numbers, I ask you, who wins in business: the June Cleaver, baking-cookies-nice-girl, or the Miranda Priestly, Devil-Wears-Prada-acting bitch? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: business communication, business etiquette, career advice for women, interviewing, nice girls dont get the corner office, start a business

Are the signs of termination looming over your head?

You are not alone. Amid talks of layoffs in many companies, employees all around the nation are gathering around the office water cooler to see who will be the next victim of job cuts.

As the recipient of an unexpected layoff in 2001, I have first hand knowledge of what it feels like to hear the following words:

“I’m sorry, but we are going to have to let you go. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: find a new job, get fired, job loss, job transition, signs of job termination

Selecting the right business partner is no different than picking a spouse.

With a husband you have love, fidelity, beautiful kids and hopefully great sex to blind you from his faults.

With a business partner the perfect match is all about finding someone to help execute the big idea and make you money–without the perks of heavy breathing, a big wedding and the ultimate, leg-shaking orgasm.

Romance and sexual compatibility aside, people make huge mistakes in partnering with the wrong people and it often leads to a loss of money, friendship and ultimately the death of a business. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: business partnerships, pick the right business partner, small business partner, start a business