Secrets to Success

In war-torn Afghanistan , much besides buildings and infrastructure has crumbled. The economy has seen ruin, and the lives of individuals, particularly women, has been harsh. But in 2005 an ingenious program by Thunderbird School of Global Management began taking steps to help Afghanis rebuild Afghanistan – one woman at a time.

Project Artemis is a two-week intensive business-training course that takes place on the school’s main campus in Glendale , AZ , USA . Thirty women from Afghanistan have been chosen as Fellows in the program. They’re brought to campus, given classes, individual instruction, and coaching in writing business plans. Tours of local companies are arranged so that the women can see a real business in action, and be given an opportunity to ask questions. They are also paired up with a Western female entrepreneur who promises to mentor them for at least two years.

During their time on campus, they develop a business plan, and on their own initiative, they’ve also created an Artemis business association so that they can still rely on the network they create while in Glendale . Through their mentors, all of whom have MBA degrees from Thunderbird, they have developed business contacts the world over. And through hard work and canny business skills, they have developed enormously successful and socially conscious companies in Afghanistan .

One graduate, known only by her first name Rangina due to security concerns, has created a home-based factory that employs over five hundred Afghan women in her native Kandahar . In this part of Afghanistan, many women still cannot leave their homes without their husbands’ permission. Therefore, Rangina has brought the work to her workers. She hires women who are trained at traditional Afghanistan needlework, a prized craft that fetches good prices elsewhere in the world. Taking patterns and pre-cut materials to them, she leaves them with a certain amount of inventory on which to work their embroidery. The women complete the work at home, and exchange finished goods for new patterns when Rangina makes her rounds again.

Her business, Kandahar Treasures, sells mostly in the United States and therefore pays a good profit, due to exchange rates and cost of living differences between there and Afghanistan. And all of the money from the business stays in Afghanistan ’s economy, supporting its local growth. Her goal for her business is “to stitch the future of peace for our children.”

Another Project Artemis fellow, Katrin, began a microfinance institution in Afghanistan. Reaching mainly women in informal small businesses, she has given out over 10,000 small businesses loans in and around Kabul. Katrin estimates that there are 80,000 microfinance customers in Afghanistan, most of them women. They live under the conflicting rules of a culture and government in the midst of rapid change, and must often overcome great struggles of logistics, expense, and cultural norms, just to get their goods to market.

Katrin’s message to her borrowers and to the business community is one of optimism and honest work. “The positive news is that this country is in transition, and that changes happen everyday. We just have to accept that there will be sacrifices along the way.”

For more information on Afghanistan, visit http://www.afghanistanmicroblog.com and http://www.microblogafghanistan.com

Networking Magic! 5 “Stick and Move” Tactics to Make Your Network Work Like Magic!By Felicia Davis, Career Acceleration Strategist, Author & Coach

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YES– it is true that Networking is an art that must be mastered. However, for those of you that are new to the networking game and the art of mastering it, please READ ON. While you do not want to be in a position at social function of hanging with the same person all night, if you really want to make your network work for you, there are some surefire tactics that you must employ.

Networking is much more than simply handing out your business/calling card and moving to the next ‘target’ in the room. I am always so surprised by the number of people that exchange business cards and do not take advantage of the possibility of creating an instant marketing campaign. They hand over their business card, say a few words and move on without leaving an impression that would inspire others to talk about them.

Get away from the fallacy of believing that networking is about who you know. Master networkers know that the true power in your network is really about WHO KNOWS YOU!  Learn to engage in meaningful dialogue with others and you will rapidly multiply the dispersion of your message. Going home with a pocket full of business cards is no indication of how strong your network is. You must implement strategies that will not only facilitate building a good network of people that know you but also create solid alliances with others.

Below are 5 strategies that have helped me grow personally, professionally and take my businesses to new heights!  Try one, two or all of them and be sure to use our Testimonial Line to share your success story. I would love to feature your success story in one of our newsletters.  —————————————————————————————————

1) GRAB their Attention and Make’em Want to Listen!

Master your 30-second introduction! You must have something to say and know how to say it quickly and with impact! If you do not have the ability to articulate the brand you call you, get it in order before your next network mixer. Here’s a quick and simple strategy for crafting your 30-second sizzle:

1) My name is______________________   2) I own (company name) ___________________ or 

2b) I’m an __________________________ or 2c) I work for _____________________________ 3) I help _________________________________________ to ________________________________________________by providing ______________________________________

So to demonstrate how you pull this all together, here’s my 30-second sizzle:

“My name is Felicia Davis and I am a Career Acceleration Strategist helping people to unleash the chaos in their career so they can get unstuck and go from EXILE to EXCELLENCE. I do this by providing career coaching services.”

Now when you first start to put your sizzle together, it will be a little tough because you’re likely stretching outside of your comfort zone. But don’t give up, keep at it and before you know it, your message will be crafted and it will fit you like a glove. Don’t miss the opportunity to have people know who you are by being unprepared to get their attention.

2) Business/Calling Card Buzzzzz!

Put your business/calling cards to work for you! Business/calling cards are at the heart of the first introduction that you make with others. Ensure that your business card serves as a true marketing engine for you. Take the time to design an impressive card with a tagline or message that will get attention and make people want to contact you. Try using the front and back of the card to get your message across, however do not cram in too much information – leave some “white space.” Business cards with visual clarity are more likely to be read AND kept for future reference.

If you need some great referrals for putting the “WOW” in your marketing materials (websites, business cards, logos, postcards etc), send your request to blackbook@sendfree.com and I’ll open my rolodex and share my Black Book of Business Resources with you. I’ve put together a list of all of my hand-picked “A-list” resources for practically all of your business needs from web designers, bookkeepers, graphic designers, audio recording services, online shopping carts, inspirational music and more.

blackbook@sendfree.com

3) Use Reverse-Networking not Empty Dialogue!

Don’t waste your time or anyone else’s with fruitless conversations that lead to nowhere! After giving your 30-second introduction, spark a dialogue that shows you have a true interest in understanding what it is that person does. This works much better than simply exchanging business cards and talking about yourself the entire time. Learn to ask probing questions– something as simple as “So tell me what it is that you do” and following it up with “Hmmm, that sounds interesting, tell me more” is enough to initiate a meaningful not empty dialogue. People love it when you truly take an interest in what they have to offer. Besides this creates a memorable experience and when you contact them AFTER the event, you will have plenty of focused and dedicated time to really talk about what you do. It’s a reverse networking tactic that has not only helped me build a network of people that KNOW ME but create some very meaningful alliances with others as well.

4) Use the ‘Power of Introduction’ to Extend that Buzzzz about You! Take advantage of the “Stick and Move” strategy to create more buzz about you! Now that you understand and know something about the person that you just met, introduce them to someone else in the room that you know. Not only will you make a memorable (stick) impression, but it also allows you to make a brief introduction and keep it movin’. If you are a lone ranger and do not know anyone else at the event YET, let the person know that you will be following up with them in a few days because you have a colleague that you would like to introduce them to. Now….you are really starting to have people know WHO YOU ARE and creating alliances with others as well.

5) Implement a Follow-up Campaign!

Get people to really know who you are! If you find that you are handing out plenty of business/calling cards but your phone isn’t ringing – there could obviously be several factors that contribute to this. However, one may very well be that you do not have an effective follow-up strategy – if you employ one at all!  Following up with those that you meet is imperative and may very well be the one strategy that gets you closer to your ultimate goal.  Do not make a big deal out of follow-up. This only leads to procrastination and no follow-up. A quick and simple email a few days after the event just to express your pleasure in having met and extending an official invitation to keep in touch. That’s it! Now you have started to establish an open AND welcomed relationship that could blossom into something at the NextLevel – whatever that level may be for you!

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Felicia Davis is a Career Acceleration Strategist, Author & Coach. She’s also the founder of Career Chaos Unleashed, A career coaching academy for women helping them unlock their potential and go from exile to excellence. More details can be found at her website – www.CareerChaosUnleashed.com.  

WAS THIS ARTICLE HELPFUL FOR YOU? If so, I need your help in helping others grow their network. Use my Testimonial Line to record your comments on this article and get FREE publicity for your business – Your comments will be heard by thousands in our various marketing campaigns.

Here’s the number to call (214) 615-6505 ext 8895.

We are the first generation of women who have had careers for most of our lives. We are entering a period of life that is virtually uncharted, a time in which we are free from social expectations and reduced family obligations, with the freedom, resources and desire to engage in new activities with meaning and purpose. It is not news that we will live longer and with generally better health than previous generations. Science and medical advances have extended our years. This will give us the opportunity to turn our dreams into realities, to consider options previously considered impractical, and prioritize how we want to spend our time. Now, it’s up to us to decide how to plan for our continued vitality. Most of us are uncertain about what we want from the next 20, 30 or even 40 years ahead of us. Although we may be clear that we don’t expect to follow in the steps of our parents and grandparents and retire, few of us have maps for how we want to proceed. Many of us in our middle years share in conversations with friends comments like the following:
I don’t want to retire, but I want to work less. I want something more meaningful than just playing golf and traveling. While these are fun, they are not enough. I want to make a difference in my community, in the world. What will I do with my time, if I quit work? Will I be satisfied? I want more leisure time, a more balanced life. I want to continue to learn and be challenged. I want to do those projects I’ve never had time to do. How can I stay vital and healthy? I don’t want to feel old!
These are all important questions and considerations. The unspoken question often underneath them is, “What am I feeling called to do?” We often don?t stop long enough to ask this question, let alone wait for the answer. Yet, if we want to find meaning and fulfillment in our later years and be in charge of our lives rather than having them run us on autopilot, it is important to take the time to explore these questions.
This phase of our life that we reach during mid-life, might be called the third act. Our first act revolved around our growing up years, which morphed into our second act of finding a partner, raising a family, and establishing a career. Yet, as we enter our third act, we are often now free from social expectations, we have reduced family obligations as our children have grown, we may be divorced or living alone, and we might have accumulated savings from years of hard work. What will we meaningfully do with our time? How can we shape the life we choose to live?
What Is Waiting in the Wings?
Preparing for your third act means first reviewing your second act and identifying what scripts or themes connect the stories in your work and career, your family, volunteer and social life. What scripts are assets that you can build upon? Which ones are liabilities that you need to adjust or learn to manage? In addition, reviewing your second act may bring back interests and passions from earlier years that you want to resurrect. With this review you can begin to explore the opportunities that are waiting for you in the wings and that you might want to bring onto center stage. In preparing for the rising curtain of your third act, we have found it helpful to raise questions about the various facets of our current lives,the emotional, physical, professional, personal and spiritual,to clarify for ourselves what is waiting in the wings for our third act. Below you will find some thoughts about each area and some questions to explore.
Emotional
Popular stereotypes would lead us to believe that most of us go through a mid-life crisis between 40 and 60 leading to unhappiness and depression. But researchers report that, far from being a time of turmoil, dissatisfaction, and dread of getting old, only a small percent (23%) of participants report having a midlife crisis.1 In many cases it had nothing to do with aging. Based on the results of this study, most people are entering their sixth or seventh decades with an increased feeling of well-being, equanimity and sense of control over many parts of their lives.
Questions to explore: What brings you joy, pleasure, and deep satisfaction? How can you express your appreciation for those pleasures? How can you continue to find those emotional rewards in the coming years?
Physical
We know that many of us have two, three, four or more decades of life remaining and that each generation is more active with more health and vitality than ever before. Yet we also may have neglected our fitness and gained some weight, and now find our cholesterol or blood pressure too high for good health.
Questions to explore: How is your current health and fitness? Do you need to take some action to lose weight, quit smoking, improve your diet or get more rest? What will it take to improve your health and fitness?
Professional
As we mentioned in the opening paragraph, we are a generation of women who have pursued careers for most of our lives. For many, those careers have brought achievements and the personal and financial rewards of success in our chosen fields. Such success has also often meant the stressful demands of long hours and hard work to meet unfair expectations or to challenge traditional stereotypes. Many of us are ready to slow down, to have more time for relaxation and to enjoy other interests. And we may not want to or financially be able to quit working. Others of us want to leave one career behind and launch a new and perhaps more entrepreneurial venture that we have always dreamed about. Others of us want to use our professional skills in ways that contribute and make a different to our community or to the world.
Questions to explore: Do you want or need to continue to work? Are you interested in launching something new? How much do you want to work? Do you want to use your skills, experience or your time as an activist or leader contributing to the solution of global issues or volunteering in your community?
Personal
Full time work and raising a family leaves little time for women to pursue hobbies, leisure time activities or make contributions as a volunteer. As our family obligations are reduced and we think of working only part-time or even leaving our work and careers, opportunities open up. We can pursue long-delayed dreams, complete neglected projects, learn to play the piano, speak Spanish, study history, or make a meaningful contribution to causes about which we are passionate.
Questions to explore: Do you have a passion to make a difference, to contribute to your community? Do you have dreams or projects you have longed to pursue? Do you have subjects you want to study or skills you want to learn?
Spiritual
The multi-tasking, over-scheduled life, cruising on auto-pilot, leaves little time to explore the questions of deeper meaning in our lives. When time does emerge, we are often at a loss, listlessly drifting from one thing to another, and feeling somehow empty of purpose, meaning and direction.
Questions to explore: Are you wondering if you will be satisfied, if you quit work and leave your career? Are you asking what you are called to do and what will provide meaning and purpose in this next phase of your life? Is your life fulfilled and guided by your spiritual beliefs?
Creating the vibrant, rewarding script for your third acts requires the review of the second act. It also requires intentional focus on how to bring these important qualities that bring satisfaction into our lives. Some of us can find that focus on our own. For others of us, we may need to combine the space for our reflective focus with an opportunity to explore our questions in dialogue with others and seek feedback and encouragement. We need to take the time and intention to implement our hopes, dreams, and goals to shape and create a vital, vibrant, and engaging script for our third act.
(Endnotes) 1- Study of nearly 8,000 Americans by the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development. Quoted in a news article. Paper unknown

Networking is a critical part of life, but it is often a very misunderstood practice. Networking is not the process of collecting contacts who can help you out at some future point in time. If this selfish supposition is your stating point, then your network is not likely to grow or maintain itself as a solid support system. True networking is based on balanced exchanges, mutual respect and genuine fondness. Forging real, long-lasting bonds with people is the key to effective networking.

Here are some tips for networking successfully in college:

1. Office hours are almost as important as lectures.

If you think that officer hours are a waste of your time, you’re a fool. Some of the long-term bonds you can form will be created in the offices of your professors. Get to know these welcoming men and women. Talk about the course material, their research or your career interests. Ask for advice. Be respectful and courteous, and recognize that your professors don’t have a lot of time.

A majority of professors love interested and engaging students. Think about how many disinterested bodies they have to try and teach. If you enter office hours with genuine enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge, you will soon discover that most of your professors are friendly and helpful. Once you have created a working friendship, you’ll have an ally in your field of study who will be there for you for the rest of your life. Don’t forget to keep in touch when you leave.

2. Section is a time to make allies.

Section can be grueling, especially if the discussion grows stagnant with repetition, soap-box speeches and general nonsense. When you witness something stupid, like say, a person professing their undying devotion to 19th century proletariat revolution, look around the room. See who else is rolling their eyes along with you. Find like minded, intelligent classmates and target them for friendship.

3. Get to know your roommates, housemates and neighbors

Familiarize yourself with the people around you. Be your own person, but don’t be anti-social. Talk to people. Find out their likes and dislikes. Develop relationships with people you respect, and shy away from associations with distracting, unfocused party mongers. Unless of course, your interests happen to coincide with these people.

4. Be social when it comes to hobbies, interests and events.

Meet people who share your interests. Join a club, find a study group or start a band. Connect with others who share your unique set of likes and dislikes.

5. Don’t be a jerk to anyone.

Don’t be a chump in section. Don’t try to embarrass people. Keep it civil with your roommate. Just don’t cause too much drama in your network will be better as a result.

Remember, don’t have the mindset of “how can this person help me in the future.” Your network should consist of friends and colleagues that you generally respect and would help out in any situation. The feeling should also be mutual. Don’t coddle a bitter professor just because he’s got a name that would look nice at the bottom of your letter of recommendation to grad school. Don’t associate with kids you don’t like. Create real relationships based on trust and mutual admiration. That’s how you build a large network of real friends who would do anything to help you out, and would expect the same type of assistance from you.