You can view all five of the tips from Mashable here, but the one that really resonated the most with me was “Don’t Play Hard to Get“.  In this tip, we are told that we should not “be coy” with our requests for readership and fans.  Go ahead…ask someone to “like” your page.  Pose questions.  Ask for comments.  Poll readers.  It sounded silly at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought…”Hmm, if a page I “liked” asked me to like a post for one reason or another, would I?”

I think that the answer is…yes.

So, if you are self-employed, manage your company’s social media campaigns, or are just a social media enthusiast…try this theory.  Test it out.  Don’t be coy, be direct.  Let us know how it goes!

I was so interested in the results., and it really got me thinking…can ANY career be a career for women who “want more out of life”?

Is there more to just the career itself?  What about the employer, the arrangements, the benefits, the perks?

…or what about the employee herself?

I like to think that any career can be for women who want more out of life.  I think it all is in YOUR perspective.  After all – we all want different things out of life.  I know, this article was touching on a lot of universal points – careers that have flexibility, careers that have opportunities for advancement, careers that pay well – and that is all well and valid.

I know someone who recently took a significant pay cut because she was offered a job that allowed her to work from home.  As a mother, that flexibility was worth more to her than anything.  I also know someone who recently left her place of employment to pursue a new position that offered a little less in terms of pay, but the company offered a lot of room for advancement, as well as tuition-reimbursement plans and a lot of opportunity for paid employee learning.  She recognized that it was a great opportunity for her to learn and grow both personally and professionally.

So my friends, I urge you to consider what is most important to YOU when considering jobs and careers.  To each his own!

I was so interested in the results.  The positions ranged from writer, to physical therapist, to web professional, to public relations specialist (which is what I do for a living, so perhaps I am a bit biased.  I digress.)  Some boasted high self-employment ratings as good as 73%.

This article really got me thinking…can ANY career be a career for women who “want more out of life”?

Is there more to just the career itself?  What about the employer, the arrangements, the benefits, the perks?

…or what about the employee herself?

1.)  Surround yourself with positive people.  Negative people drain your energy.  Positive people share your energy and you can learn a lot from each other!

2.)  Set goals, but anticipate change.  By setting goals, you can be energized and focused.  Be sure to allow for some flexibility, however.  Things always pop up, and by being flexible, you’ll be able to rebound from surprise faster.

3.)  Celebrate your failures.  My personal favorite!  This is something that took me a long time to figure out.  But it is so important.  Take the time to understand what went wrong, and thoroughly analyze the situation.  Your greatest successes often come from your biggest failures.

Mother’s Day is a wonderful holiday for many women and their families.  In yesterday’s post, I invited everyone to contemplate the following:

“What have I learned this year?”
“What have/has my children/my family learned?”
“What are my parenting goals?  My personal/professional goals?”
“Am I achieving these goals?”

I am a big proponent of making plans.  I have a one year, five year, and ten year plan; they are always evolving and changing, and sometimes I do not update them as often as I would like to, but I have them none-the-less.  And they really help to guide my thought and planning processes.

This Mother’s Day, I encourage you to evaluate your plans.  And if you do not have them, make them.  Reflect on who you are as a person, and as a professional, and as a mother.  List all of the things you have learned, and things you’d like to learn.  List all of your goals, the ones you have achieved, and what you still would like to do yet.  Build them all into your plan.  And next year, I am sure you will be amazed at how much you have grown over the last year!

Mother’s Day is a wonderful holiday for many women and their families.  Whether you are a mother yourself, or you are honoring your mother, your grandmother, or any “mother” figure in your life (there are many different types of moms!), the day is one to be spent with the ones you love.  It is also a great day for reflection and personal growth.

This Mother’s Day, ask yourself…

“What have I learned this year?”
“What have/has my children/my family learned?”
“What are my parenting goals?  My personal/professional goals?”
“Am I achieving these goals?”

Tomorrow’s post will address these questions, and some of the things that mothers can do to further their growth.

Pinterest is currently a “by invite only” site – however, it is very simple to request an invite to get started.  After creating a free account, start organizing your “pins” and “boards”.  Remember – whatever you put out there is public.  You are what you pin.

By doing a quick search, you can find people and organizations on Pinterest that are of interest.  Follow boards and pins, and take it a step further and “like” and comment on pins.  You can even post pins to Facebook and Twitter.

By connecting with other like-brands and professionals in your career fields, you can expand your social media reach and make some new connections!

Springtime is a great time to renew your goals.  In the Spring, we celebrate growth, new energy, and new life.  So why not breathe some new life into your goals and plans for the new year?

Renew your goals, and reevaluate your plans.  Make any necessary changes in order to make these things come to life.  Recommit to your goals and learn from any mistakes you have already encountered along the way.  Don’t fret if you have strayed a bit from your goals…you still have seven months to make your vision a reality!

I try to wake up each day with this mentality ready to go.  This way I don’t get too side-tracked or distracted and I can stay in that “motivated, busy” state of mind.  Each day when I wake up, I plan out the day.  “What am I doing today?”  “What deadlines do I have?”  “What does my schedule look like?”  By planning out the day, I can be more organized and focused.  Next, I prioritize – especially if I have a lot to do (which, like most women, is usually every day).  “What needs to get done, and what can potentially wait another day?“  Finally, I delegate whenever possible.  Sometimes, there is just NO way that all of my necessary tasks are getting done in the amount of time I have, and I need a little help.

By taking a little time each morning to plan your day, you’ll find that you will be able to manage your time much better.  There is always time for time management!

A great Twitter handle.  Make sure that your Twitter handle suits you, your brand, and your business.  You may consider yourself a “hot mama”, but a Twitter handle that reads “HotMama66″ may not be the best approach if you are looking to use Twitter for professional networking purposes.

A customized Twitter profile and background.  Take the time to customize your Twitter profile page.  It helps keep your brand consistent, and shows that you took the effort and the extra step to do so.  You can make a background easily in Paint, or you can use Photoshop or other more professional platforms if you have access to them.  When in doubt, hire a pro.

Only tweet what you want people to know.  Seems silly, yes.  But it can be easy to get caught up in personal conversation with friends – which is, of course, totally fine…if you use your Twitter account for personal use.  But if you are using it for professional networking, just remember that everything you tweet out can ultimately be seen by potential clients and future employers!