National Business Womens Week: 101 Facts on the Status of Working Women
Heart of a Woman in Business| 2 Comments »
101 Facts on the Status of Working Women
The facts in this report tell a fascinating story about women and their role in the workplace and society. While women have made progress in several areas, some facets of the workforce are changing much too slowly. The wage gap has narrowed by only a half a penny a year for the past 40 years.The gap between median earnings of full-time, year-round workers has women’s earnings currently 77% of men’s, in 2006. At this rate, it will take another 40 years for women to reach wage parity with men, and over the course of a working lifetime, the average women loses approximately $523,000 due to the wage gap.
101 Facts on the Status of Workingwomen gathers data on the status of women in the labor force including: the wage gap; women entrepreneurs; women in the Fortune 500 & 1000; women in the government; women and higher education; women’s buying power; women and philanthropy; women and families; women and care giving; domestic violence and the workplace; women and retirement; and women’s health.
Source: Business and Professional Women/USA
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Click here for information on the newly released book,
Heart of a Woman in Business
by Sheryl L. Roush.
National Business Women’s Week Poem: Heart of a Woman in Business
Heart of a Woman in Business| No Comments »National Business Women’s Week Poem:
Heart of a Woman in Business
This is the opening poem to the new book,
Heart of a Woman in Business:
Stories, Strategies and Skills for
Business Success,
by Sheryl L. Roush
Heart of a Woman in Business
by Sheryl L. Roush
A woman in business is like no other
Multi-brilliant at work, and often too, a mother.
Guided by vision to make a difference in this world,
Reporting for service, with her hair even curled.
Ready to go, whenever the need
She knows in her heart, there’s a calling to feed.
To do right, to speak up, determined to succeed
A role model that plants the possibility seed.
Knows who she is, right down to the core
Her essence, her passion—shine all the more!
She’s in charge with a handle on it all.
At the office, at home, or at the mall.
Even in the depth of all she may know
Realizes there’s still plenty room to grow.
So energetic, creative and fun…
Early rise, there’s much to be done!
She still finds time to laugh and to play
Sacred time too, to kneel and to pray
It comes from inside, driven by vision,
Get on board – she’s on a great mission!
Her daily prayer resides in God’s grace
Serving others from her heart sets the pace
Making use of her talent, wisdom and skill
From strengths and trust in Divine will.
Gentle, compassionate, loving and strong
In this sisterhood of success you want to belong
Anything she puts her heart to she can do
She’s not alone sis’ta – as you can too!
The road to get here has been quite a ride
“Call me ‘Woman’– it’s my source of pride!”
Come along, she’s blazin’ new trail
A woman in business—whom we all hail!
-Sheryl L. Roush
©2008 Sheryl L. Roush, All rights reserved.
Permission to distribute or publish this poem, you must include author and book credit.
Sheryl Roush is an 8-time business entrepreneur, starting her first business at the young age of 16 in the patio of her parent’s home. She is a top-rated international speaker, inspiring people to bring their heart to work. Her programs rekindle the spirit, raise the bar and create excitement. www.SparklePresentations.com
Order your autographed printed copy of Heart of a Woman in Business book before October 31, 2008, and receive the FREE eBook version of Sparkle-Tudes! inspirational quotations for & by women, also written by Sheryl L. Roush. Order directly from the Sparkle Store at www.SparklePresentations.com for this offer.
(CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL OFFER)
National Business Women’s Week: Recommended Reading
Heart of a Woman in Business| 1 Comment »National Business Women’s Week:
Recommended Reading
This week is the nationally celebrated as National Business Women’s Week, acknowledging the accomplishments of working women everywhere.
Released September 9th and in honor of this annual celebration, Sheryl Roush released the newest book in the Heart Book Series, Heart of a Woman in Business, is an inspirational and professional treasury of original short stories, poems and quotations from over 80 contributors.
Heart of a Woman in Business is an inspirational collection celebrating working women and their unique contributions to the workplace. This "here’s how" book combines sisters-sharing-with-sisters insight with guidance, ideas, stories, and "I am doing it, you can too!" encouragement. It is a powerful book written by and for entrepreneurs, executives, professionals, part-timers, free-lancers, retirees, and working mothers. Experts, coaches, speakers, trainers, retirees, share their top tips, secrets and advice in conversational tone.
Contributors include: Andrea Glass, Christine Kloser, Darlene M. Fahl-Brittian, Debbie Allen, Debbie Lousberg, Helen Blanchard, Jeanie Callen Barat, Juliet Funt, Linda Salazar, Lynn Pierce, Marcia Reynolds, Sharon Wilson and "Dr. Zonnya" Laferney.
Sheryl Roush, an eight-time entrepreneur since age 16, knows a thing or two about being a woman in business. From competing in men’s sports beginning at age 8, to replacing men in corporate positions at age 20, and succeeding in traditionally male-dominated industries and organizations. She is the President and CEO of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., based in San Diego, California. Organizations hire her to rekindle the spirit, raise the bar and create excitement, from creating positive work environments to enhancing communication skills, and boosting morale and cooperation. Some of her clients include: 7-Up; IBM; Sheraton; Stampin’ Up!; Sony, the Women in Publishing Society, Hong Kong; Union Bank; US Census Bureau; Womens’ Council of Realtors; Women in Business Symposiums; and the Zoological Society of San Diego. Her other books include: Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother, Heart of the Holidays, Corazon de Mujer, and Sparkle-Tudes!
For autographed copies of the book, click here.
To learn more about Sheryl Roush visit www.SparklePresentations.com.
October 20-24 is National Business Women’s Week®
Heart of a Woman in Business| 1 Comment »National Business Women’s Week®
A Business and Professional Women/USA Signature Event
October 20-24, 2008 is National Business Women’s Week®
Since 1928 Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA) has sponsored National Business Women’s Week®. Each year during the third week of October, BPW/USA’s members across the country take the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of workingwomen.
The objectives of National Business Women’s Week® (NBWW) are:
- To promote full participation and equity for women in the workplace;
- To publicize the achievements of business and professional women on the local, state and national level;
- To publicize the objectives and programs of BPW/USA as they relate to the millions of business and professional women across the country.
Over the years, National Business Women’s Week® has become an event widely recognized by public and private institutions and local communities. In the past, the President of the United States, at the request of BPW/USA, has declared the third full business week in October as National Business Women’s Week®. On state and local levels, governors and mayors issue similar proclamations. Each state and community tailors events and activities to meet its needs. Activities include WOMENomics Forums, Woman of the Year Awards, Women Joining Forces programming, Employer of the Year Awards, displays and exhibits, dinners and educational programs.
The History
The idea for the National Business Women’s Week® (NBWW) originated with Emma Dot Partridge, Executive Secretary of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs from 1924 – 1927. The first annual observance was held April 15-22, 1928, when Business and Professional Women/USA President Lena Madesin Phillips opened NBWW with a nationally broadcast speech. In her remarks, she stated that the purpose of the week was "to focus public attention upon a better business woman for a better business world."
BPW Local Organizations implemented daily programs designed to call attention to the mission and achievements of BPW/USA. Reports about activities for those early observances tell of many successful events throughout the country including: Legislative Day devoted to national, state and local legislation of interest to women; Education Day emphasizing the need for equitable educational opportunities; Club Rally Day for prospective new members; Community Day honoring leaders in the community; and Goodwill Day devoted to working with other women’s organizations.
From this early effort, NBWW has grown into a nationwide salute to all workingwomen, as well as an opportunity to spotlight issues of importance to workingwomen. In more recent years activities have included Women of the Year Awards, Employer of the Year Awards, Individual Development workshops, and issue panel discussions.
NBWW was moved to the third full week of October in 1938 so that Local Organizations could use NBWW as a springboard for their new year’s programs. U.S. President Herbert Hoover was the first president to issue a letter recognizing NBWW and the contributions and achievements of workingwomen. Presidents since then have always issued a letter acknowledging the important role women play in the nation’s economy.
For more information and membership, see Business and Professional Women’s site.
Click here for information on the newly released book, Heart of a Woman in Business by Sheryl L. Roush.
Workplace Humor: Challenging Name
Heart of a Woman in Business, Humor| 3 Comments »Workplace Humor: Challenging Name
The famous Olympic skier Picabo Street (pronounced Peek-A-Boo) is not just an athlete….
She is now a nurse currently working at the Intensive Care Unit of a large metropolitan hospital.
She is not permitted to answer the hospital telephones.
It caused too much confusion when she would answer the phone and say, “Picabo, ICU.”
The Gifts in Each and Every Job
Heart of a Woman in Business, Stories| No Comments »Story submission for the Heart of a Woman in Business book by Sheryl Roush 
releasing October 1, 2008
The Gifts in Each and Every Job
In my work as a career coach, I consistently advise my clients to look for the gifts in every job, especially the current one where they may most feel trapped and miserable. It’s well worth the time to review and identify the very best lesson, experience, or skill picked up from each position in each company. This exercise helps replace feelings of regret or dissatisfaction with gratitude and appreciation which helps a person move on toward success and realizing their full potential.
Being a coach who believes in “walking the talk,” I too have performed this analysis on my own job history. My very first job while in high school as a “kennel girl” at a veterinarian’s office taught me about customer service, the business side of pet care, and showed me the true value of pets in human lives. Summer jobs during college as an office clerk at a copper mine gave me opportunities to learn new skills and understand the operations of a large company. Retail work during the school year provided spending money and a social network.
As my focus on pursuing a career after college increased, I became aware of a different level of gifts and lessons. Working for small, entrepreneurial companies built the desire and experience needed to follow my dream of owning a business. A career in the staffing industry allowed me to hone my operations and supervisory skills and to understand the importance of matching employee talents with the right job. A position as a project manager gave me the appreciation of seemingly minute details required to implement new processes. I can look back at each and every job ever held and clearly see why I was there and how it helped me get to where I am today – the owner of successful career coaching and organizational training company.
However, there was one job experience that baffled me. About 12 years ago, I spent two years working in a large retail organization moving up through the ranks to Assistant Manager of a multi-million dollar store. The gift of this job continued to elude me during my review over the years of its many components. It was perhaps one of my least gratifying jobs with more negative memories than positive. I could easily identify lessons learned about those things I didn’t want to repeat–the awful hours, a restrictive environment, and poor management practices. I knew there had to be something good there and was determined to pinpoint it. Just recently, I did find that one gift.
Like most of us, the values and priorities I expected from my work life shifted and I moved from being so very work focused to having a more holistic view of all my life’s components. Other facets developed and took precedence: the love of family and friends, the importance of life-work balance, good health, spirituality, and the need for a sense of meaning and purpose in all my activities. As I reviewed that particular job again after having made this mental shift, the gift became very clear–my friend Sharon.
Sharon was my co-assistant manager at the store and we developed a fun working relationship–first based on our mutual discontent and knowing that there was a better way to work–and then from our curiosity and true appreciation of each other’s strengths. Eventually, we each found different job directions and moved on with our careers outside of that retail experience. Our friendship then really blossomed and became a strong and supportive one. When it’s so easy to stay in touch and get together regularly, even years later, that is a sign to me of something truly meant to be. Through these last dozen years, we have helped each other through life’s ups and downs and share an unbreakable bond–one based on trust, respect, and love.
Now I look back on that one particular job and see how its gift was the best of all–a constant reminder of what’s truly important, more so than the paycheck, the career path, or any work related lesson – the precious gift of friendship.
Debbie Lousberg
Career Coach and Trainer
www.SmartCareerMoves.net
Women to Lead the Way
Heart of a Woman in Business| No Comments »Women to Lead the Way
Characteristics of Women Managers
Even though equality in the workplace has been around for many years now, in some of the larger firms, mid-level and executive management positions are still doled out to members of the “good-ol’-boys” club. Women have had to overcome the stigma to even be recognized for their accomplishments, to earn the right to compete for these positions. Once there, they possess and offer what no man can.
Newer thinking firms embrace women in management positions and acknowledge they bring compassion, nurturing, and determination to the table. Compassion underlies the understanding that both the firm’s employees and its clients are human beings first and an “entity,” second. Nurturing is that innate mothering instinct that helps ensure that everyone is encouraged to do their best, they are taught to be independent, and provide a working environment that is conducive to both the employee and the firm. Determination means that she will stop at nothing to protect what is hers, with the veracity and ferociousness of a mother tiger, but with tenderness to encourage those in her care to prosper and be productive.
The "good-ol’-boys" will always be part of the "good-ol’-boys" club, but firms wanting to move ahead in today’s market will look at women to lead the way.
– Linda Ulrich
Tips: Being Present At Work
Heart of a Woman in Business, Tips & Trivia| No Comments »Tips: Being Present At Work
Being present at work begins before we even go to our place of employment. It starts with our intention to bring consciousness into everything we do, including those activities we do for money. Whether you are a secretary who files papers all day, a janitor who cleans the local high school, or a nurse caring for children, there is much to be gained by fully engaging in the tasks at hand. When you decide to bring your presence into your work activities, you may find that the entire experience of working is filled with new energy and life.
Sometimes we believe that when we step through the doors of our workplace, we cease being ourselves and start being someone else’s employee. Though our employer may depend on us to perform certain tasks, the truth is that we never stop being ourselves.
The commitment to being a conscious, empowered person of integrity doesn’t stop and start with a time clock. Our decision to be present for our own lives is what weaves together all of our experiences from the moment we wake up, throughout our entire workday, and to the moment we turn off the lights at night.
Before leaving for work today, you can clear your energy and choose to step out with your best foot forward. Setting an intention in the morning can even help you stay present as your day unfolds. You might decide to find joy in every activity, complete all of your projects on time, or be truly helpful to your coworkers.
By being fully present, you will begin to radiate and people may begin to notice; they may even want to follow your lead. Whether you run a company or hold a sign outside a deli, do it with pride and be the best you can be.
