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Entrepreneurs Club
2007-11-21 12:54:00
Well my entrepreneurial friends, there is a new Entrepreneurs Club   that will be of interest to people everywhere. Why? Well all the speakers are videoed and each month they are put on line for all the members to view and membership is really cheap. There are also plans to build a Virtual Incubator online so you can access a range of necessary services at a reduced rate. Any members that join now will get discounted rates as the service gets going so if you are interested in getting some great information at low cost then go to www.aelc.edu.au and click on Entrepreneurs club. I highly recommend it!
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More money, more power? Not for women....
2007-11-15 13:19:00
The latest average weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) showed this week that the average male earnings jumped ahead by 5.2 per cent to $1172.20 while female wages only grew 4.8 per cent to $980.70 in trend terms. Men are earning much more than women, with the average male wage rising earning to almost $10,000 more than their female counterparts.These are incredible figures. I can only presume this refects the male focused dominance of the mining sector in Australia. But I also believe that women are still not choosing the high earning executive pathways that so many men pursue.  In fact many women I talk to seem to be heading back down the pathways of their grandmothers and only work because they have mortgages to pay. It is just too hard to work, have a family and pay for childcare. Well if this is the problem, what are we doing about it?  
More About: Women , For Women , Power , Money

Baby or not to baby? Is that the question?
2007-10-31 00:19:00
I was watching Neighbours on Television a couple of nights ago and they were tackling a major womens' issue - the belief that young women who want kids should take on a lesser role so as not to impede the progress of their 'female with balls' counterparts. In this particular episode, a young soon to be lawyer was told quite firmly that you can't have it all and she should get out of the game so as not to make it harder for the other females who apparently want only to have a career. The fact that this is being tackled in a show like this is fantastic. It shows the bias that some women do have towards their potential 'baby-making' counterparts. I have come across this a lot in industry. The very women who are supposed to support you and help you balance your career life with your family life are the obstacles in creating the culture that will make this happen. I had a meeting with a very dear friend in a senior position in the mining industry who is goi...
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Are women now in the driving seat?
2007-10-24 15:13:00
If you believe everything you read, you would get the very strong impression that women are making great headway into the careerosphere. We are now apparently needed as the skills shortage grips a stripped corporate airspace. This is supposedly leading to more flexible hours, better childcare arrangements and a range of programs that will support our journey to the top. Pity that news hasn't hit the women working in these haloed positions. Most of the woman I know are working their butts off for no extra pay and definitely no extra benefits. I am not sure why, but I think it something to do with the white male centric boardroom still in prominence. Come on boys, get it together. Research shows that women are leaving corporate life in the droves to set up thriving home businesses. If something is not done I can guarantee that work life is going to get tight when the same woman who could have been promoted and supported in your business is now going into competiti...
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Business and Family
2007-07-23 01:35:00
Managing a family and a business is challenging enough but managing a family working in a business together is even more difficult. The professional relationships we have with our co-workers is so important to the business dynamic. When we add that deep personal element a situation can quickly perceived as a personal attack. My family all work in our business - husband, 2 sons and a daughter and soon my daughter in law. We all have complimentary skills which is really fantastic but sometimes the recognition of that skill is diminished as the one-up-man-ship of the family dynamic comes into play. Take for example the situation we had this week where 2 of my family members were working on a particular outcome without consultation with the workers/family members who were using the system. This happened because of a lack of recognition of the value the others could bring to the situation and was directly linked to a personal attitude and not a professional one.When I realised what was h...
More About: Business , Family , Entrepreneurs , Sine

Business and Family
2007-07-23 01:35:00
Managing a family and a business is challenging enough but managing a family working in a business together is even more difficult. The professional relationships we have with our co-workers is so important to the business dynamic. When we add that deep personal element a situation can quickly perceived as a personal attack. My family all work in our business - husband, 2 sons and a daughter and soon my daughter in law. We all have complimentary skills which is really fantastic but sometimes the recognition of that skill is dimished as the one-up-man-ship of the family dynamic comes into play. Take for example the situation we had this week where 2 of my family members were working on a particular outcome without consultation with the workers/family members who were using the system. This happened because of a lack of recognition of the value the others could bring to the situation and was directly linked to a personal attitude and not a professional one.When I realised what was hap...
More About: Business , Family , Entrepreneurs , Sine

What a U-Bloke!
2007-06-08 06:36:00
It's worth reading what our Man in Confusion has to say about women and computers - and, of course, there's a response there as well The bigger question is "what is it with MEN and women and computers????
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Believe to succeed!
2007-05-26 13:55:00
This week I met a whole range of women - talented women with fabulous personalities and big futures. But most seemed so unsure of themselves. Why? It is like life has beaten the zing out of them. Husbands, children, full-time work , minor setbacks and a myriad of lifes little challenges just make it seem inpossible.Sometimes  I think all we need is someone to believe in us until our confidence has time to catch up with our dreams.  I know that because I have been through it over and over and over. Each time I have had to drag myself out of it little by little but only with the help of those around me.  Those who believed in me, not the knockers and certainly not the narrow minded idiots who don't believe in anything but what they can see in front of them.   If I had listened to those I would never have achieved anything. To those women and you know who you are.... believe and you will succeed and don't let those around you tell you otherwise. BTW a lovely ...
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Go Girls - and Boy!
2007-05-19 05:44:00
I have just returned from a conference for school officers and registrars, where I presented workshops on values, organizational politics, career/life balance and future directions.  I presented at the same conference last year and I have to say that this is one special group of people - 120 women + 1 man!  They are, very often, the cement that holds schools together; they are multi-skilled and multi-talented; they work long and hard and party the same - just ask me about the conference dinner!!They are a fabulous group to work with - they participate, they learn, they inquire and they challenge.  They take this professional learning seriously and they make the most of their opportunities to improve.  They also raise some very important issues - * when we talk about career/life balance, and we put ourselves as our Number One priority, is that being selfish?* when we talk about values, should we compromise our personal values to better align with those of our line...
More About: Girls

Time Pressure
2007-05-19 01:40:00
I have the will  but not the time to do so many pleasurable activities. Time seems to be getting more and more squeezed everyday. Everyone I talk to says the same thing " I don't know where the time went'. My theory is that between electronic communication, ease of home computer access and the extreme use of mobile phones outside our normal work hours ,we have effectively added in another 3 -4 hours on top of our normal work day. This is making us feel time pressured and overwhelmed. Just think about it. I know I get up in the morning at around 6am and check my emails and catch up with anything I missed the day before. At the end of the day I check my emails, finish a document or two and am still taking calls at 8pm. So this is my challenge to myself and to you. Turn off the computer and the mobile phone every day by 7pm. Just see if it makes a difference. I will check back in next week with what happened to me.
More About: Sure

Dastardly Differences
2007-05-02 04:54:00
If ever you have doubted that there are gender differences, and that they affect all forms of interaction, consider how women and men interpret some simple, everyday words.THINGYWomen: Any part under a car's bonnet.Men: The strap fastener on a woman's bra.VULNERABLEWomen: Fully opening up oneself emotionally to another.Men: Playing football without a box.COMMUNICATIONWomen: The sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.Men: Leaving a note before suddenly taking off for a weekend with the boys.BUTTWomen: The body part that looks bigger no matter what is worn.Men: What you slap when someone scores a touchdown, home run, or goal.COMMITMENTWomen: A desire to get married and raise a family.Men: Trying not to pick up other women while out with girlfriend.ENTERTAINMENTWomen: A good movie, concert, play or book.Men: Anything that can be done while drinkingFLATULENCEWome: An embarrassing by-product of digestion.Men: An endless source of entertainment, self-expression and male bo...
More About: Differences , Difference , Ferenc , Diff

Passion For Fashion (shoes that is)
2007-04-26 06:40:00
What is it about shoes that women love so much? What a passion they are for me and many others. I have a friend who has over 200 pairs in boxes in their own room. She has photos on the boxes so she can find what she wants when she wants it. She is otherwise sensible, stable, and normal in every respect but she loves her shoes. Especially high strappy, unique little numbers. She proudly shows off the rows of boxes and regales the unaware with the history of each. A little weird maybe but I think many of you may well identify with her. We have spent many a pleasurable hour oohing over a pairs of Manola Blaniks looking forward to the day we could afford to buy them. Shoes give us the means to live life a little vicariously – it is like exotic lingerie with the added benefit of being seen by the general public and in my case it actually looks a lot better on. I seem to take on the personality of my shoes - Red slingback shoes and I feel just a little naughty and daring, purple pum...
More About: Diary , Fashion , Passion , Pass

Enter the U-Bloke
2007-04-26 06:33:00
Firstly, I would just like to announce that a new voice will soon be expressing their views on U-Net - Someone who can give a little bit of gender perspective and an insight into how the other half think. . . . Or not.Yes, the poor overworked, hard-suffering, under appreciated and generally misunderstood (according to him) U-Blok e is going to get a say. So girls, stay tuned and sharpen your knives!Now, on the subject of U-Net. We are really excited at all the things being developed here at Project U just for our U-Net members. You will learn more about everything in due course. The first exciting announcement is U-News. Every month we will be connecting with members of U-Net and offering services, support and feedback through our newsletter called U-News. The first issue is nearly ready for sending out.You need to be a member of U-Net to receive U-News so please join now and let us nurture U. It’s free and you’ll love it!Join U-Net 
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Mind your mummies
2007-04-06 17:19:00
I am the besotted grandmother of a perfectly delicious four-month old girl.  While I dote on her and everything she does, I am also watching my daughter in her role as a mother.   She is a sensational parent, despite being sleep-deprived, adores her baby and can't bring herself to even think about having to go back to work.  Her lifestyle has completely changed, to now revolve around this little cherub.  While she is inspiringly serene in this new role, I know that there are times when she feels cut off from the world and very isolated, particularly from her former professional life.  She is on maternity leave, yet there seems to be no provision from her employer to keep her engaged in, and informed about, what is happening in her workplace.  I am sure that she is not alone in this situation.  If we are serious about retaining a motivated and capable workforce, then employers must acknowledge, and plan for, parenting so that there are ch...
More About: Your , Mind

Career or Spouse? Does it have to be choice?
2007-04-04 10:58:00
I have just read an article that suggests women can't have a career and a happy marriage. It really is a poor indictment on what is actually a pretty normal state of affairs in this day and age. Lucky there is also a written rebuttal by Elizabeth Cochran to bring some sense to the mix. My fear though is that the male point of view is reality. Let me know what you think!http://www.forbes.com/home/2006/08/ 23/Marriage-Care ers-Divorce_cx_mn_land.ht ml  
More About: Career , Choice , Have , Choi

Networking - Myth or Must
2007-03-28 03:21:00
Many have told me of the angst and misery they go through to 'network' - That horrible feeling when you first enter a room full of people you don't know and the gut renching first hello really is an ordeal of the highest degree.  They also tell me how much time it wastes when they could be concentrating on their career and business. So is networking a myth or a must?The tales of woe above are something that I work though all the time but choose to ignore. Why you say? I believe you can't expect to get ahead in your career or your business without people knowing who you are or what you do!  The myth is that if you do a fabulous job  you will be noticed - Or if you have a great business you will have lots of customers just because you do a good job...  People are not mind readers and a personal connection is the only true way to guarantee your path to success. I am what you might call a non-networkers networker.  I don't attend lo...
More About: Networking , Work , Network , King , Working

Living with depression
2007-03-18 01:35:00
My family have just been through a very traumatic few weeks. Depression , a most insidious disease, has our family in its grip. Several family members have it in both the clinical and manic form and we seem to roll from year to year with one person or another suffering through a breakdown. I run a business which employs four family members other than me - three who have depression.  All are valuable employees and fabulous, intelligent people who simply have a chronic illness.  It is estimated that in Australia 5.8% (1) of the Australian population has depression and 9.5% of the American population (2). A serious set of statistics indeed and one that is exacerbated by a lack of understanding from the general populace.The members of our family who don't understand it are perplexed and unable to cope with those who do, and friends are left with a feeling of helplessness. What do you do when those you love best are doing and saying things that are socially unacceptab...
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Business and Home
2007-03-09 15:06:00
Having a business at home seems like a wonderful dream for many people. A lifestyle to aspire to and luxury most don't have. The reality can be somewhat different. Motivation, isolation, lack of space and the distraction of people dropping in, kids and family are just a few of the challenges that must be faced. The biggest issue especially for women is the fact that most  don't have a network to support them. I don't mean just family or friends but a network of like-minded people who have the same challenges. This peer network is one that tells you that you aren't insane, that there are other people out there who face the same things as you and can offer you a friendly ear when you need it. That network that makes you feel that you are not alone in the world. Finding a network like this is a task that is necessary and one that could help your business enormously. I was in rural WA last week running a workshop and although this town had 6000 people, the people in that r...
More About: Business , Home , Ness , Sine

International Women's Day
2007-03-05 13:00:00
International Women 's Day (IWD) celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women.The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States.  The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century, amid rapid world industrialisation and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. Women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8 March 1857 in New York City.  The garment workers were protesting about what they saw as very poor working conditions and low wages. More protests followed on 8 March in subsequent years, most notably in 1908 when 15 000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.  In 1910, the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen and an 'International Women's Day' was established.In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1...
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Workplace Bullying
2007-03-03 10:07:00
I have just finished a 3 day residential program for women in leadership.  To my absolute surprise and disgust, every single participant had been the recipient of workplace bullying at one time or another.  Each woman was a middle manager in her workplace and the bullying had been done by both males and females. All had either left a job for this reason or had to employ extreme tactics over a prolonged period of time to resolve the situation.It is incredible to think that, in this day and age, bullying should be tolerated by organisations. Seemingly, organisations still do not have enough processes in place to couteract this abhorrent practice. I myself have been subject to this treatment and know how powerless you can feel when confronted with such a situation.My advice is:Tell someone in HR and a superior (someone above you that is not the bully) that you have a problem with a workplace bully but you are trying to handle it yourself. Make them aware.I...
More About: Workplace , Work , Bullying , Bully , Bull

Loveable Leaders
2007-02-20 02:43:00
Oh-so-many years ago, when I was a Youth Education Officer in a secondary school, I participated in a Lifeskills professional development program.  One of the great messages I took away from the program was that kids only learn from people they like.  I remember sharing that with a school principal and being right-royally shot down in flames - 'liking', apparently, was a euphemism for allowing kids to chew you up and spit out the bones and signalled a lack of respect, not to mention a complete disregard for the preferred maxim of 'obey me just because I'm older than you.'Undeterred, I continued to believe and prove that kids did indeed respond better to being treated with respect, dignity and empathy.  It's not then rocket science to extend that to we big people, who also appreciate being treated in the same way.Listening to many successful women leaders,  I keep hearing the same message - knowledge of the operational side of the organisation/business is no...
More About: Love , Leaders , Lead , Leader

Should we have women only programs?
2007-02-17 23:56:00
One of the most wonderful men I know asked this question of me -  'don't you think it would be better to treat everyone as individuals and not as a gender class? I agreed that that would be ideal, however not that easy. The fact is that women and men are different and need different forms of support. I commented on my forum the other day about when I went away on business, I worried if my family would eat properly and look after the house.  There are not many men who would consider this at all. Men have the wonderful ability to compartmentalise their thoughts, which means they can close off their home from their work lives. I am yet to find a woman who can do this effectively. The fact is that women need programs to help them deal with their own issues and challenges. I do agree however that we need a forum for helping men understand women's issues and vice versa. That is why Project U is launching a new program called 'Working with Women '. This program goes through t...
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Leading the way
2007-02-17 03:30:00
I have just had a fantastic business trip around Australia working on one of my greatest passions - the development of young people. For those who don't know,  as well as Project U,  I run a number of other companies, the most prominent of which is the Australian Experiential Learning Centre (AELC).  We are at the moment engaging with universities and businesses Australia-wide in the bid to bring on board an all of government and industry internship program. Why would I do this you ask? Well my reason is this - students in universities need a way to apply the knowledge they acquire within their degrees and the only way to do that is with work experience. The only problem with this is that most businesses don't know how to work with students and most universities can't find the resources to monitor the process. So I devised a program that gives students, industry and universities a guided process within which to work and a guaranteed method of success...
More About: The Way , Leading , Lead

Get in for your chop
2007-02-08 23:27:00
By Carol ScottAt a recent networking function, I was privileged to talk with some fabulous women, one of whom posed the very interesting question: Who gets the biggest chop at your table? How many of us grew up listening to our mothers saying that the biggest chop (aka the largest serve, the juiciest steak) was reserved for dad/brother/any bloke who had dropped in for dinner? And how many of us have done the same thing? I know I have! And yet, as women, we have just as much claim to that afore-mentioned chop, trimmed of all unnecessary fat, needless to say. In claiming the chop, we are acknowledging, first and foremost to ourselves, that we have earned it as much as anyone else. We are also saying to others that the chop doesn’t have to belong on the same plate all the time, just because that’s the way it has always been. The small steps that we take towards achieving equity are the strongest. Next time I serve dinner, I’ll think very carefully about where that big...
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