When Fridays Were Fridays

Women in Business: Are They Holding the Line?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

After reading Jenna Goudreau’s recent post on Power Women 2011: The Year’s Winners and Losers, I felt (in one word) – sad.

I could add a few more adjectives to the list – deflated, overpowered, and worried. For years I have been watching and waiting for strong women to break through the line – and many have. There is no question that there more women are taking on leadership roles than they did when I joined Corporate America more than thirty years ago (and all of the managers in my area were male). There is no question that more women are working their way up to middle management and senior management roles. There is no question that there are more women in the room (and it’s no longer normal to be the only woman in the room).

And yes, there were some big wins for women leaders in 2011, including IBM’s Ginni Rometty, the first female leader of the tech giant, and HP’s Meg Whitman, her second CEO role.

So why, then, am I concerned?

Just like women at all stages of their careers have done over and over again for decades, 2011 saw strong women dropping out of the game. For some the decision was their own, including Avon’s Andrea Jung, yet others, including Yahoo’s Carol Bartz, were reportedly forced out. Meredith Viera left the Today Show saying she wanted to spend more time with her family – an echo we hear far more frequently from women than their male colleagues.

Nearly thirty years ago when I was seeking my first management appointment, I interviewed with a woman – the only female second line manager I had visibility to at that time, and one of very few across the company. She shared with me that she felt – as a woman – that she had a responsibility to go as far as she could in the company, to pave the way for all of the women who will come after her.

It is certainly progress that women in business today can step back and make the decision that feels right for them. Yet, without the women at the top layers continuing to charge forward, will future generations be stalled? What do you think?

What To Do When You’ve Got Nothing To Say

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaYou’re in a meeting. Your boss turns to you to ask for your opinion on a topic you should know something about, and you have absolutely nothing to say.

After a long day of meetings the host goes around the room asking for final thoughts, and you’re coming up blank.

Or maybe it’s an e-mail you need to respond to, and you are expected to have something to contribute.

It happens. Sometimes you’ve just got nothing.

That’s how I felt this week about my weekly blog post. It was Wednesday afternoon and I still had no idea what to write about. I had nothing. And then I realized – having nothing is something we should talk about. After all, we’re expected to have an opinion. We’re expected to contribute. I’ve never seen anyone get ahead by not having anything to say.

So what should you do when you are coming up blank?

1. Start talking. Now, I will caution you, this doesn’t work for everyone (and you know who you are). I’m not talking about babbling, or meaningless chatter. But there are those who rise to the occasion once they start talking (and you know who you are).

2. Agree (or disagree) with what someone else said. This is also an opener to start talking. Once you put it out there, the idea will form.

3. If appropriate, ask if you can take time to think about it – but don’t take too long. Respond later the same day, if you can.

4. Start writing. If it’s an e-mail you need to respond, just start writing. There is no penalty for having a lousy opinion on paper until it’s sent. Once you start writing, chances are the answer will come. Just be sure to edit before you hit send.

5. Start with the conclusion. If you know how to end your point – start there, then back into the why, how, and other supporting points.

6. Prepare in advance. You’ve seen people employ this strategy. There is always someone in the room that has a question to ask or a point to make – no matter what. It’s not necessary to do this all the time, but you don’t want to come up short when you’re the subject matter expert.

7. Compliment the team. This works extremely well in a group meeting or work session. If you’re asked for a thought or opinion, and you are happy with what’s been done and said so far, play the teamwork card, and thank the group or specific individuals. Everyone likes a team player.

What are your suggestions for what to do when you’ve got nothing? What has worked for you?

Nobody Likes to Fire People

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeRecently, Mitt Romney has been quoted as saying, “I like being able to fire people.” Left out of context that statement sure sounds like Romney wants to cut jobs, hurt the workers, and keep the economy stalled. But the statement is taken out of context.

Romney actually said, “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.” Specifically, he was talking about insurance companies that aren’t providing enough value. In essence, he was making a statement about free enterprise. Romney was making a statement about merits, quality, value, and every individual’s right to choose the insurance that is right for them. It was a statement against bureaucracy and large government (and yes, despite having been accused of flip-flopping on issues, consistent with what appears to be his emerging platform).

I think most of us would agree that if we hire someone to mow the lawn and they do a lousy job that we would find a new lawn service. If we go to a doctor that we’re not happy with, we move on.

As much as Romney can appear cool at times, I don’t believe he likes to fire people. Nobody likes to fire people. What he, and nearly every manager who has worked at a large corporation will tell you is that sometimes people need to be fired. Whether that’s to address an unaffordable business model or a performance issue, sometimes it simply needs to be done.

Does that mean that Romney is against job creation or that he wants to hurt the middle class worker? If he is truly an entrepreneur (as he describes himself) – then at his core, creating jobs is what he does.

Will Romney downsize the government? And will jobs be lost as he does so? If he sticks to his current message, then yes, that will surely happen. But he also says that he is planning to reduce the tax on corporations, keep private sector jobs from moving overseas, and encourage those companies to create more jobs. And if he does so, that will be good for the economy and for jobs. That’s a message I want to hear.

Will Romney stick to that message and follow through once he’s in office? What do you think?

Google+, Plus or Minus?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I think it’s fair to say that in the past three years we have seen a social media explosion:

You must be on Facebook to connect with family and friends, share photos, and stay in touch with classmates.
If you’re in business, a Facebook fan page is a must.
Blogs and micro-blogs (including Twitter) are the place to find and share information about topics you care about.
Anybody who is serious about a career is on Linked In.

And lately it seems that just about every group is building some kind of online community hub with forums, video, and even more information.

Whew! That’s a lot of information to absorb and respond to. Our online lives are already fragmented and time-constrained. And in 2011 there was a new kid in town, Google+.

Google used the same approach to launch it’s “plus” as it did with gmail, allowing only those who were invited to participate in the first round.
When I received my invitation, I was excited to join Google+. I set up my profile and found a few people to add to circles. Now, a few short months later, the thrill is gone. I don’t pay attention to +1’s. I have some people following me (a pure mystery, as I am not active there).

So why have I lost interest? I am simply out of bandwidth. For me, plus has become a minus.

There’s not an unlimited amount of online currency. We can each only absorb so much. And wooing users away from their existing online social structures is a much different game than switching a use from aol mail to gmail. Whether you have just 9 twitter followers or 900, or 9000, the group you have today is established where you are today.

What about you? Are you active on Google Plus?

Taking Stock – What Have You Accomplished This Year?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaEach and every year that I worked for a large corporation, I was subjected to an annual appraisal by my boss. And, as a boss, I subjected my employees to the same, using a tedious process set out by Human Resources that goes something like this:

Employee sets the goals at the beginning of the year
Manager approves the goals
Manager gives formal feedback to the employee mid-year (being careful not to be too specific because who knows how the year will end)
Employee writes their accomplishments against the goals at the end of the year
Manager reviews the employee’s accomplishments, does their own assessment, and assigns a rating
Manager meets with employee to let them know their rating
Manager’s manager approves the rating

(And the entire process begins again for the next year.)

It sounds exhausting, doesn’t it? It didn’t matter whether I was the employee receiving the appraisal, or the manager giving the appraisal – and it didn’t matter whether the appraisal was disappointing or glowing – I learned to dread the process (and my perception is that most employees and managers also disliked it). But, the rules said that was what we needed to do, and so that’s what we did. After all, how else would we know who should get the highest raises (or bonuses, or promotions, etc.) (Note the hint of sarcasm in my voice as I write this last sentence.)

Now, on my own with no one to answer to but myself – without any of the structure or rules enforced by an HR department – I find myself looking forward to assessing my accomplishments for this year, and putting together a plan for 2012. And I’m not alone:

Chris Guillebeau writes at The Art of Non-Conformity about the importance of the annual review, citing it as something he has done every year since 2006.

At Escape From Cubicle Nation, Pamela Slim shares some simple ideas for how to plan for 2012. While she calls them marketing ideas, the concepts she shares work for every aspect of your business (or career).

The major difference between what these motivators suggest and what we are all used to in the corporate environment is who defines success. Instead of being about what your boss or your company wants, or implementing strategies and goals set by someone else, it’s all about your personal goals and how you perceive your own accomplishments.

Now here’s the secret: Taking stock works whether you are an entrepreneur, running a small business, freelancing, or working for a large company.

Whether you look at things on a calendar year basis, or some other point in time that makes sense for you (like one year from starting a key project), the idea is the same. An annual checkpoint gives you cause to reflect on what you have accomplished, be grateful for the support you have received, be happy about where you are, and decide what to continue doing and what to do differently going forward.

What have you accomplished in 2011, and are you happy with the results?

Holiday Pet Peeves

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeIt’s just two days before Christmas, and things are getting hectic. Whether it’s a family that’s too predictable, lights on the tree that no longer twinkle, a cake that flopped, or you still can’t figure out what to get for that one person on your shopping list – chances are (in addition to all of the joy of the holiday) something is bugging you. Here’s your chance to get it off your chest so you can set it aside and enjoy the holiday.

I’ll go first.

My pet peeve this holiday season is the UPS deliveryman. That’s right, this man (perhaps a slightly inaccurate description as he appears to be no more than eighteen) causes me distress nearly every day around 4pm.

I should explain that I have been a mall-avoider ever since Al Gore invented the internet – (ahem!) and possibly even before that. If I can order online, I do. All that holiday internet shopping results in frequent package deliveries at this time of year.

I order online all year long of course, but other times of the year a single ring of the doorbell announces a package delivery – a nice pleasant sound lets me know a surprise awaits at the front door. But for the past month or so, instead of a pleasant “ding-dong,” incoming packages have been announced with a “bang-bang-bang” on the front door. The knock is more like a Law and Order “open up – police!” knock than a friendly neighbor knock. It’s a jolting knock, a disturbing knock. And did I mention that the door is glass?

You see, the UPS deliveryman is in such a hurry to drop off that package that he can’t be bothered to open the glass door and bang on the wooden door. C’mon, the doorknocker is right there – that’s what it’s for, right? And if he doesn’t have time to open the glass door, how hard is it just to ring the doorbell?

I’ve considered asking him politely to please use the doorbell (and not bang on the glass door), but I can’t catch him. It seems the UPS driver is riding with a tandem runner, and he’s speedy. Even the roadrunner couldn’t catch him.

The good news? Christmas is upon us and we will soon be back to sporadic deliveries with a single UPS driver and a nice friendly “ding-dong.” Happy Holidays!

Your turn – what’s your pet peeve this holiday season?

Completely Adapted to Working at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

You know you’ve completely adapted to working at home when:

1. The pile of papers on the kitchen table no longer bothers you.

2. You’re more concerned about staying up late to watch Homeland than getting up early.

3. You notice what time the sun goes down.

4. The laundry is full of gym clothes and sweats (and you haven’t been to the dry cleaner in months).

5. On some days, the only time you get out of the house is to walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail.

6. You routinely answer the home phone by hitting the speaker button.

7. The time of your yoga class is more important than anything else on your schedule.

8. You don’t mind actually answering the door when the UPS man rings the doorbell.

9. You take a shower at 3pm, or 4pm, or not at all.

10. The words “I need to put some real clothes on,” are said more often than you run the dishwasher.

There Is Life After Corporate America

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Yes, yes, there really is….

Approximately three years ago I left Corporate America after thirty years with the same company. I was tired, frustrated, and even angry at times. And did I mention I was tired?

When I left I wasn’t sure what path I would follow, but I knew I wanted to write. I started this blog soon after – mostly as an experiment – and could have never predicted that it would have the audience it does, or that Forbes would be interested in running my articles.

But somehow I needed to turn my penchant for writing into more than just a blog, I wanted to write a book. A book about life in Corporate America, perhaps? I thought about it, even started writing it, but set it aside because I found myself getting tied up in knots as I wrote. That book is clearly not ready to be birthed.

So I combined with knowledge of food allergies and love of baking to write my first book – and I learned quite a bit about photography along the way. For a long time I haven’t said much about this – I didn’t gush about getting an agent or a book deal because I wasn’t sure what to expect, and afraid that I might somehow jinx it.

It was when I saw the cover for me book that it really started to sink in – this is real. Here it is:

Did I mention that I really love that cover?

And then, when I saw my book listed on amazon" (and Barnes and Noble and other places) for pre-order, I decided I couldn’t not talk about it anymore. The book is really coming! In April 2012!

So yes, there is indeed life after Corporate America. Am I making any money? Not really, but I consider this phase an investment. Am I working my butt off? You betcha, but I don’t set my alarm clock. Am I happy? Yes, and helping others at the same time.

If you want to keep up with the latest scoop on my upcoming book be sure to visit me at Learning to Eat Allergy-Free.

So, what about you? What’s your story about life after Corporate America? And are you happy?

The Consequences of Not Knowing What Business You Are In: A Sad Little Netflix Story

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaThere was a time when I called Netflix’s CEO, Reed Hastings, brilliant. I take it back.

Ten years ago, when Netflix started mailing DVDs to customers, the idea was new and unexpected. It was an extension of the DVD corner store, with the added value proposition that you didn’t need to leave home to rent a new movie. Along the journey, Netflix did a few things that led me to believe they were very smart marketers:

They made their service very easy to use – there were no forms to fill out. Movies were delivered fast, and returning them was easy.
They built an impressive and streamlined distribution system.
They allowed users to build a wish list of movies. The phrase, “Let’s put it on the Netflix list” became synonymous with, “That’s a movie we should see.”
They continued to enhance services while lowering the price of the offerings.

But more recently Hastings has failed to recognize that his business isn’t just about mailing DVDs.

In the past few months I have received three e-mails from Netflix. The first, notified me that my costs for subscribing to Netflix were going up – nearly doubling – if I wanted to both continue to receive DVDs by mail and have the option for streaming. The company also announced that the two businesses would be completely separated, and I would need to use two websites and two different movie lists.

Huh.

The second – an apology of sorts, attempting to explain the change, which read (in part), “We realized that streaming and DVD by mail are really becoming two different businesses, with very different cost structures, that need to be marketed differently, and we need to let each grow and operate independently.”

You can’t be serious.

While the company took some heat for the price change and for splitting the two services, the second letter just poured fuel on the fire. And so the company sent a third letter notifying me that DVDs would be staying at Netflix and that I could continue to maintain one movie list.

Whew. Maybe.

I can’t help but wonder if the company has a strategy.

A lot of damage has been done. In just one quarter, the company has suffered a serious toll, losing 800,000 members. While they still count me as an active member, I am reconsidering whether the single DVD that sits around my house collecting dust is worth $7.99 per month. And I am exploring other (less expensive) streaming services.

The most critical problem for Netflix is a failure to recognize what business they are in. Hastings second letter defines DVD mailing and streaming as two separate businesses, and as soon as he did that he opened the door for trouble. Netflix was singularly poised to be able to serve all of our movie-watching needs (short of the theatre), and they have now opened the door for other streaming services (like Amazon Instant Video) to poach their business.

A word of advice for Netflix: Recognize that the movie-watching experience needs to continue to evolve as technology evolves, and that, while the list is important, it’s not really about a list – it’s about the experience and allowing me to watch what I want, when I want, how I want… easily.

When the Deer no Longer Freeze in the Headlights

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Image by elviskennedy via FlickrI remember when an occasional deer would be caught in my headlights and she would freeze in her tracks. She was caught off guard – surprised, shocked, even frightened.

But today, the deer wander around my neighborhood just like the squirrels. Neither cars nor people scare them. They are no longer afraid to approach the house to feed on the buds. They no longer freeze in the headlights – a car driving down the road is a familiar sight to the deer in my neighborhood. They have become complacent.

But the deer are not the only ones who no longer fear the headlights.

The unemployment rate stays high and we expect that unemployment benefits will be extended.

We no longer flinch when our jobs are sent overseas – we expect it.

Another financial institution or government is in crisis and we expect that they will be bailed out.

Our country’s leaders fail once again to reach agreement on a key issue, and we continue on as if this were okay.

I could argue heartily that fear is not a healthy emotion. Yet without it, we lose that adrenaline rush that causes us to buck up and take action. Without fear, we risk becoming a society of complacency and entitlements.

When was the last time you saw a deer in the headlights?

Occupy… To What End?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Image by tranZland via FlickrIt started with Wall Street and it has spread just about everywhere. I am talking about the Occupy movement, of course. Even in my relatively quiet town, I drive past a sign that says, “Occupy Poughkeepsie Until We Are Free.”

Yes, the sign used the word “free” and I flinched as I read it.

You see, I’m not going to try to convince you that there isn’t value in fighting for change, or even demonstrating for change. I’m not going to try to convince you that there isn’t growing inequity between the very rich and the very poor. And although the middle class has been hurt – badly – by the current economy, I strongly believe in free speech.

Yes I used the word “free.”

In the interest of exercising my own right to free speech, I challenge the occupiers with the sign asking for freedom to define exactly what they are asking for. We are certainly are free to protest, and to write whatever we want on our signs. We are free to wear what we please. We are free to choose what to study, what work to pursue, where to live, and how to spend our time. We are free to vote and yes, we elected the politicians we are so unhappy with.

While “freedom” is clear in protests for civil rights, I believe financial success is something to be earned rather than handed out. But if we want change, we need to be clear about exactly what we want. So tell me please, what are we fighting for?

A Humorous Perspective on the Republican Presidential Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeNote: This account is fictional, and not intended to represent the candidates’ actual views. Any similarity to words actually spoken by the candidates is coincidental. This is for entertainment purposes only.

And now for the last question of the night from Maria Bartiromo: “Down the line, thirty seconds. Describe in your own words, the color of the sky.”

Governor Jon Huntsman: “When I was in China there were days we couldn’t see the sky. But I know that sky. It’s grey.”

Representative Ron Paul: “As far as I’m concerned the sky can be any color you want it to be. I just hope I’m still here to see it after the election is over.”

Governor Rick Perry: Well, I see three colors; white, and there’s some grey, and oh – what’s the third color... wait, it will come to me. I’m sorry; I can’t recall the third one.

Representative Michele Bachmann: “The answer is very clear. If we just look we can all see that the sky is blue. The same color as my eyes.”

Former CEO Herman Cain: “Maria, that’s the wrong question. We need to be looking at the clouds in the sky. I see one there that looks a nine. And oh – there’s another, and another. 9-9-9, that’s what I see.”

Former Senator Rick Santorum: “Well, if there are clouds in the sky I probably introduced them.”

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: “Look. To answer that in thirty seconds is a little bit absurd. The color of the sky affects every American. But just so that we’re clear, I know the sky better than anyone here.”

Former Governor Mitt Romney: “It really doesn’t matter what color I think the sky it. What matters is how the markets see it. If the markets like blue, then blue it is, and we should let the markets work.

What was your take on the Republican Presidential debate? Was there a winner?

What is Rometty Up Against As She Takes the Helm at IBM?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image by Fortune Live Media via Flickr“She’s tough. She’s demanding.”

That’s what IBMers who have worked for the company’s new CEO say about her. Of course, she would have to be tough, demanding, and a lot more than that to reach the top spot. In fact, the few women who have achieved this level of success have often been called aggressive and other terms that women generally consider unflattering.

There is no doubt about it – Virginia Rometty’s rise to the top spot is groundbreaking – both inside and outside of IBM. At IBM, she is the company’s first female CEO, and she is one of a very small club of female CEOs. But the few women who have achieved the top spot in technology companies don’t always fare well.

So, what is Rometty up against?

While she won’t officially take the reins until January 2012, this announcement comes with IBM stock at a near-all-time high. Rometty needs to continue to drive growth, certainly an enormous challenge in today’s economy.

Rometty is home-grown IBM talent, having joined the company in 1981 after a short stint at GE. Her background at IBM is in sales, marketing, and services. Knowing the inner workings of IBM, and IBM’s clients will surely be an advantage. But will she be able to hold her own as a technology leader?

Her direct reports were once her peers – all male with the exception of Linda Sanford – and many who were also considered to be in the running for her job. These include Steve Mills, the iconic leader of IBM’s Software and Systems Group and others who drive IBM’s technical strategy.

Rometty is going to need to draw upon the considerable talents of this team, while holding her own as the final arbiter and decision maker. Most importantly, she will need to continue to convince Wall Street that IBM has the right strategies and can deliver – something her successor, Sam Palmisano, did masterfully.

Just When We Thought It Was Over, Another Insider Trading Indictment

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image by World Economic Forum via FlickrRajat Gupta pleaded not guilty to insider trading on Wednesday. His indictment comes mere weeks after Raj Rajaratnam was sentenced to eleven years in prison.

Gupta, a graduate of Harvard, was head of McKinsey and Company for a time, and has held senior leadership positions at Goldman Sachs and Proctor and Gamble. By all accounts he was well respected.

While NY Times Dealbook is touting this as the first arrest in this scandal to reach beyond Wall Street and into the corporate boardroom, that isn’t completely accurate. Let’s remember that senior executives at IBM (Bob Moffat), Intel (Rajiv Goel), and McKinsey (Anil Kumar), are all paying the price for their parts in this insider trading ring.

In total, 29 defendants have been charged, including both professional traders and corporate insiders. In practice, for an insider trading ring to be effective, there need to be insiders who have access to confidential information.

Nevertheless, whether the charges against Gupta will hold is yet to be seen. What we know for sure is that the story is not over yet.

A Novel Interview – With a Corporate Past

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Okay, that title is a bit of a play on words – but I couldn’t resist. You see, today I have the pleasure of sharing an interview with a new novelist. Like me, she left Corporate America in 2008, and (like me) she has been forging a new career as a writer.

Like me, she blogs about life after Corporate America and (like me) she’s fun, intelligent, and witty. (Okay, my son would call that last little bit a “self call” but again, I couldn’t resist.) It’s precisely for all of these reasons – and to demonstrate that there is life after Corporate America – that I thought you might enjoy meeting Joanne Tombrakos, and hearing about her first novel, The Secrets They Kept.

*****

Joanne, when you left Corporate America you planned – among other things – to write. Is it everything you hoped it would be?

Yes and no. Does it look the way I thought it would? No. I thought I would have sold my novel to a big publishing house. I hadn’t even thought about self-publishing. I didn’t think I would coach or do any sales consulting. And I didn’t count on the economic meltdown that followed my departure in the fall of 2008.

The only thing I hoped it would be was happier. I wanted to stimulate both sides of my brain, not just the one that held the sharpened pencil and looked at spreadsheets. I wanted to feel passionate and challenged about my work again. I wanted more personal fulfillment. In that respect the answer is yes, it’s everything I hoped for.

I was really impressed with The Secrets They Kept. As I was reading the story the dialogue drew me in. Even though you write about a Greek family like your own, in the language I could hear Jewish mothers, Italian mothers, and even French-Canadian mothers. Do you find it surprising how universal the language of motherhood is?

I’m glad you reacted that way! I wanted the interaction to be relatable to more than just a Greek-American reader. And no, I am not surprised about the universality of the language. To me the mother-daughter dynamic has no distinction in race or ethnicity. The fortunate thing for me is that the Greeks have a flair for the dramatic, so it makes it easier to illustrate a point!

Joanne, you chose to tackle two very difficult topics in this story – secrets, and mental illness. Why those topics?

I can’t say there was a plan behind that. But then this novel started as an exercise in a writing class in which the assignment was to create a character. I had no story line in mind. But it was there Elena was born, so let’s say she led me to those topics. Of course she was fueled by my fascination with secret keeping and how in the process of keeping our truths from others, we deny ourselves our own truths.

As for choosing mental illness, I didn’t want Yannis to be a bad guy. I wanted there to be an explanation for his behavior that was beyond his control. Until recently diseases like these were shrouded in secrecy and shame. Before medication, individuals suffering from something like what was once called manic-depression could be locked away so no one knew. That seemed to fit into my secrecy theme.

I love that the story centered on the women and their complex relationships – too few novels do. Why do you think that is?

I read something recently in which Steven Spielberg was quoted as saying the problem with story today is that people have forgotten how to tell it. Characters drive the story. Yet we often get so focused on the plot and action, at the expense of the character development. My personal opinion is that novels have taken a back seat to tell all memoirs. Corporate decisions on what is getting bought are too often made not necessarily by what might be considered a good read, but by what will sell the most in the shortest period of time. Look at the rejection history of a wonderful novel like The Help. The complexity and depth of the characters are what drove the story line, yet she had a crazy, difficult time getting someone to publish it.

You chose to be your own publisher for this novel. I suspect that your business background came in very handy as you learned to be a publisher as well as a writer. What was the biggest challenge you found doing it yourself?

Letting myself take a break! I have a perfectionist streak that is embedded in my DNA, which can pose some challenges when there is no one to delegate to. But as you said, my business background is an asset. When I got my first job in radio sales it was a draw against commission position. I was told, that essentially I was creating my own business. The company gave me a phone, a desk, someone to take messages, because this was 1983 and our phone system did not have voice mail yet. But otherwise, I had to look at what I did as if I was in business for myself. That’s exactly how I operate now as a writer, coach, speaker and author. Except there is no draw!

I can totally relate to that drive for perfectionism! With one novel under your belt, what can we expect next from you?

I have a second already written, that needs a professional edit. This one is about a woman who was seduced by the corporate world in the eighties. Not that I know anything about that! I also have some ideas for non-fiction. The thing that is so great about being an entrepreneur is you don’t have to pigeon hole yourself into just one thing. I can write fiction and non-fiction, I can coach and I can even do some sales consulting when the opportunity strikes. It just requires good time management, another skill I honed in my corporate days!

*****

Joanne Tombrakos is a writer, business coach and speaker who inspires and creates change. She blogs on living and working after corporate America at onewomanseye. Joanne was born to first generation Greek-Americans. She lives in New York City. The Secrets They Kept is her first novel.

Rajaratnam’s Sentence Brings Closure to the Galleon Scandal

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeRaj Rajaratnam, who was convicted last May on charges of securities fraud and conspiracy, was sentenced on Thursday to 11 years in prison and a fine of $10 million dollars.

Rajaratnam led what has been described as the largest insider trading ring ever, building a network of high-ranking experts in key technology and consulting firms. It is estimated that he gained about $64 million from his actions.

With a motive that appears to have been pure greed, Rajaratnam used personal relationships to broaden his web. Many of his co-conspirators have been convicted and are serving or have served jail sentences. Danielle Chiesi, the femme fatale who excelled at luring secrets from her companions was sentenced to 30 months. Bob Moffat, formerly of IBM, was sentenced to six months in prison.

Eleven years in prison is a record sentence for an insider trading conviction. Nevertheless, at a time when Main Street employees (and the unemployed) are occupying Wall Street, the sentence seems to be too light. I’ll be the first to argue that not all Wall Street employees are corrupt – in fact, I believe most aren’t. But the few – like Rajaratnam – who profited big time from illegal activities, deserve to be treated like the criminals they are. What do you think?

The Legacy of a CEO – Steve Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:09:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaAt 6:15pm last night I received an e-mail alert on my iPad that Sarah Palin would not seek the presidency. At 7:42pm on that same iPad I received an e-mail alert that Steve Jobs had died. Noone is talking about Sarah Palin. Everyone is talking about Steve Jobs.

It’s rare that prime time TV is interrupted for the death of a CEO, but Steve Jobs was not your average CEO. He was a household name – not just because we carry around his legacy in our pockets and handbags – but because he changed the way we live our daily lives.

Chances are nearly everyone reading this has at least one product created by Jobs iconic company, Apple. Three out of five of my most-used technology gadgets are made by Apple. Chances are everyone reading this has an iTunes account, and has seen at least one Pixar film.

As a technology lover I am saddened by the loss of Steve Jobs.

Having worked in the technology industry – and new product development – I know how hard it is to not only innovate, but also deliver new technology. Especially difficult is the crystal ball. Oh, it’s easy to do market research to learn what customers need today – it’s knowing what we will need tomorrow (and the day after that) that’s the real challenge – and that is where Jobs excelled.

I can’t help but wonder how Steve Jobs mind worked – how he could see the vision of the future before any of us knew what we needed. It’s the vision I will miss the most. I don’t know what new technology I will be craving five years from now, but I am certain Steve Jobs did.

The Art of Not Screwing Up

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeLast week, New York Yankee Mariano Rivera set a record with his 602nd career save. Of course, in baseball, it seems like there is a record for just about everything under the sun, and Rivera finally did get his day in the sun. You see, he has a thankless job. When Rivera comes in as the relief pitcher to close the game, he doesn’t get credit for the win – the starting pitcher does. The batters who scored the runs and made the hits get credit for the offense, and the outfielders that make spectacular catches and infielders that make the double plays get credit for the defense.

The relief pitcher has a very unique job. He has to maintain the lead, and the win.

In short, his job is to not screw up.

The relief pitcher is the closer. The strategy has been set and executed. The game has been played. It’s time to hold the course.

But not screwing up is never as easy as it seems. It can be very hard to stay the course. It’s hard to stay levelheaded under pressure. It’s hard to execute someone else’s strategy. It’s hard to resist the urge to change things.

Whether it’s sports, politics, or business, the new leader coming in when the team is already ahead has perhaps one of the toughest roads ahead of them – to not screw up.

How to Ruin a Business and Alienate Customers in Five Easy Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Image by Photo Giddy via Flickr1. Fail to build a strategy that includes the addition of new revenue streams.

2. Give away new stuff to address an emerging market to your core clients for pennies.

3. Decide that you want to make money on the new stuff and start charging your core clients double.

4. When you realize that your clients are angry, send them a letter explaining that you failed to recognize the market was changing. Tell them you made a mistake, but don’t actually do anything to fix the problem.

6. Fail to recognize that there’s value in being the only vendor who can provide both products. Announce that you are splitting the new business from the core business. Choose a funky name for the old business and use the established name for the new business. Make it really easy for clients to switch vendors.

Need I say more?

Is it Time to Wave Farewell to the Mailman?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaThe US Postal Service announced last week, that without enactment of legislation, the Postal Service will be unable to fund their benefits plans, stirring up yet another debate in Washington.

Of course we all take the postal service for granted. It’s been there to deliver mail – rain or shine – since 1775. It’s an icon. But is it time to consider casting the USPS aside?

I, for one, must admit that I look forward to my daily trip to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. As a writer working at home, the sound of the mailman driving by around 2:30 pm signals time to take a break, and I look forward to it. Every day I walk to the mailbox with anticipation.

But the anticipation dwindles as I find flip through junk mail, catalogs, and – if I’m really lucky – a piece of personal mail. The truth is – despite having been conditioned for years to expect something exciting in the mail, it rarely comes.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I received a handwritten letter in the mail. Most of us prefer e-mail. It’s faster, and we have the benefit of spell check. Even college acceptance letters are most frequently delivered online today. Of course there is the occasional invitation – weddings, anniversaries, and other big events; many of us still choose the mail to deliver the official invitation, but more often that not we’ve spread the news about the event on facebook, or via e-mail.

Bank statements and bills? I use automated bill pay at my financial institution. And I’ve gone paperless for nearly all financial statements.

And about those catalogs? Save the trees, please.

I do get a sense of gratification when the mailman delivers a package – usually something I am expecting – and that makes my trip to the end of the driveway seem worthwhile.

But Fedex comes by around 10:30 am and the UPS truck is usually here by 4:30 pm. There is no doubt in my mind that packages would still be able to be delivered if the US Postal Service was dissolved. There’s also no doubt in my mind that private delivery companies could pick up the slack to deliver all else.

So then, is it time to wave goodbye to the mailman for good? What do you think?

Skip the Mentor, Find a Sponsor

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image by Alex E. Proimos via FlickrAs a young female rising star in the corporate world I had more mentors than I could count. There were the official mentors – the ones whose name showed up on a piece of paper as being “assigned” to help me succeed. There were the unofficial mentors – the people I felt a special connection with and sought out for advice. And there were managers – who were trained to coach as part of their job.

During my corporate career I mentored many employees – in all of the capacities above. But it was only in my role as manager that I felt my role as mentor extended to sponsorship. Looking back on it now, that was a mistake.

While mentorship – providing a role model, imparting advice and wisdom, and being a sounding board – is a valuable asset to an employee, the key to making it up the corporate ladder is getting the right opportunities and promotions.

What every employee needs is a sponsor.

A sponsor is someone who will put your name on the slate of candidates for the promotion, possibly even before you know the job is available. A sponsor is an advocate for you in the room where the decisions are being made. A sponsor can help you land the job, or (in some cases) keep a job.

But sponsorship is not just up to the mentors – the employee (or mentee) plays a key role here as well. Too often we are willing to believe that our skills and capabilities will get us ahead. We believe that if we deserve the promotion, it will come. We believe that if we are the most qualified we will get the job. Too often, that is not the case. Every employee needs to ask for the role he or she wants.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and find the sponsor who can help you succeed.

Places You Should Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

This is rare post for me. Usually I pick a topic and write a post that is informative and relevant. Maybe it doesn’t always work out that way, but that’s my intent. This week I am switching it up a bit. I have pulled together a list of a few blogs that I think the readers here (you!) may like. Some of them are big names and some are still growing their audience. All are on my reading list.

One Woman’s Eye – Written by my friend Joanne Tombrakos, this blog explores life after Corporate America.

Baby Bummers – This is a humorous cartoon blog, written by my friend Devon Wickens.

Ordinary Courage (by Brene Brown) – I heard Brene speak at a BlogHer conference recently, and have been mesmerized by her words ever since. I think Brene's book, The Gifts of Imperfection, is a must read for every human being. (If you don't identify with the human species you can pass.)

9 Ways by Gloria Feldt – A strong advocate for women, Gloria Feldt writes about work, life, and politics.

Enjoy them, and let me know what you think!

Who Chooses the Middle Seat?

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaAs I sat in my aisle seat at the gate in Chicago (leg two of my trip to the BlogHer conference) waiting for the seat next to me to be filled, I wondered - does anyone choose the middle seat? I'm an aisle seat person all the way, and I know there are those who prefer the window. But roughly one third of the seats on a 737 are middle seats. Are they simply left for those who waited too long to make reservations? Or those who failed to check in online and secure their seat assignment?

People traveling in pairs, like the young couple on their honeymoon who sat behind me, can certainly account some of those middle seats. There were also a few families with children relegated to the middle seat. But what about the rest of those middle seats?

Could there be a profile of a person who actually prefers the middle seat?

As mentioned, I am an aisle seat lover. That is as much due to the fact that I like to stretch my legs and have easy access to the restrooms, as it is that I like to be the first person out of my seat when the captain turns off the seatbelt sign. Aisle seat lovers are often type A personalities, who like to be in control.

I find that window seat lovers are often sleepers. They're less worried about access to the restroom, or missing the snack cart when it comes around. They wait patiently for their turn to get off the plane. Window seat lovers know that the plane won't get there any faster if they sit near an aisle.

So who, then, is the middle seat lover? Perhaps they are extraverted types who want to be sure that at least one person will talk to them during the trip. Or perhaps, like many managers and middle managers they find themselves stuck – in the middle, that is.

While many employees aspire to the title of manager, few truly understand that the position entails a lot of negotiating between layers; managers need to keep their employees happy and motivated while keeping their bosses satisfied too. It’s a constant juggling act, just like the person in the middle seat is constantly juggling for an armrest. We know why they stay in their jobs, just like we know why the middle seats are rarely empty – they need to get from point A to point B.

Speak up middle seat lovers! Who are you?

Special announcement: When Fridays Were Fridays readers are invited to enter to win a big giveaway at my other sire - Learning to Eat Allergy-Free. Check out how to enter here.

The Power of Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaWe all make choices every day. Some choices we make with purpose, and some we make by not taking action – simply by choosing to go with the status quo.

One of the most difficult – and the most critical – choices we all make during our careers is moving to a new job or role, whether it’s within the same organization/company or a completely new area/company. The current job (even if you don’t like everything about it) is a known quantity, you know what’s expected, and you know how to talk to your boss; perhaps you know that you’ll be able to leave work at a reasonable hour every day, or that you can come in late if you need to get the kids on the bus. The new job might mean more excitement, higher salary, and a chance to learn something new – or it might mean more responsibility and longer hours for the same salary.

Does the latter mean it’s a bad choice? Absolutely not. Consider the intern who chooses to work for free to gain experience, or the writer who chooses to blog for free to build a platform. The question is whether it’s the right choice for you.

Your current boss may tell you it’s not a great move. Ask yourself whether he is looking out for his own interests or yours.

Your mentors may advise you based on the choices they have made in the past. Are they assuming the path they took is the only right way?

Your spouse, friends, mother may all have an opinion; their views may be clouded by how your choice will affect them.

Here’s the secret: You have the power to make your own choice.

Ask yourself whether this change is important to you and your goals. If you make this choice today, what will it mean tomorrow? Next month? Next year?

Whatever you do, don’t just flip a coin; make the choice with intention.

How do you make difficult choices?

The Way We Used to Watch TV and Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Colette Martin) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Image by phrenzee via FlickrI remember my family's first color TV. Like most new technology, we didn't get the full value out of it at first. Most of the networks were still broadcasting in black and white. But on NBC we could see the colorful peacock, and we felt special. I could not have predicted that less than five decades later, I would be able to carry a device in my purse that would allow me to watch not only television, but movies - on demand - from just about anywhere. I am, of course, talking about my iPad.

Yes, the world has changed - again.

A few weeks back I wrote an article titled, The Way We Used to Read Books, and stirred up some nostalgia. But text is just one small piece of how our world has been changed by technology. Video has arguably made an even greater impact. This is the conversation that many of us are having with those born in the 21st century:

"When I was growing up, we had just one TV. It was a big box that sat in the corner of the den. We couldn't sit too close, we were told that the radiation would hurt our eyes. There were just three stations to watch, and we were lucky if we could get a clear picture by adjusting the antenna on top of the TV. We had to get up to change the channel.

" If Get Smart was on at 8pm, we had to watch it at 8pm. If we missed it, there was no way to catch up until the reruns were broadcast. It would be years before VCRs allowed us the flexibility to record and watch later. A VCR? Oh, that was a device that would allow us to record to tape.

"I remember the first movie I saw; it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I saw it in a huge theater with an enormous screen. Each theater only showed one movie at a time - they only had one screen - and they had limited show times. Usually the same movie played for weeks before a new one came out. I was in college when the first movie theater in my town added added two more screens. Now we could choose which movie to see!

"When the movie production companies started selling movies on tape, we could buy them to watch at home, on our VCRs. We could also rent movies at Blockbuster (yes, they went out of business) to watch at home. It was a little bit like borrowing a book from the library, but we had to pay to borrow them. DVDs, DVD players, and digital video recorders would come later. No, the XBOX was not the first DVD player.

"Netflix changed the game when they allowed us to subscribe to have movies that we chose sent home for viewing. We never had to leave home. They were even more brilliant when they took advantage of streaming technology (and yes, cloud computing) to let me watch a movie on my TV whenever I want to. Better yet, I can watch movies on my laptop and my iPad from wherever I am."

I predict that within the next decade we'll also be saying:

"Now, I never buy DVDs or movies, and I don't even need a DVR. Whatever I want to watch is available via cloud technologies. I can watch for five minutes while I'm in line at the grocery store, and then continue watching later at home. I pay one low fee to get this service across all of my devices."

Okay - that last bit about one low fee may be unrealistic, but maybe if I'm willing to put up with commercials...

What do you remember most about you used to watch TV and movies? What do you think we'll be saying about the technology advancements in yet another decade?