The Brain Drain

By: JoAnn Hines

What ever happened to employee loyalty? You know the type: people who went to work for a company at a young age and then stayed there throughout their entire career. I am sorry to report that those days are long gone. The mantra has become to stay with a company for three years and then move on. In fact, today if you haven’t changed jobs several times throughout your profession it’s considered a detriment to your career.

One of the biggest problems in corporate America today is what I call the Brain Drain. It is a simple as it sounds – these employees are tapped out. Their brains have been drained. It is amazingly apparent when you look at the number is women who are leaving corporate America to start their own businesses. Why do these talented women leave feeling disenfranchised? The answer is complicated and a result of the employer not understanding the real issues at hand.

Women in the working world have all been taught to work hard, be good at your job and you will get ahead. (Yes, my mother told me this too). The problem is that teaching methodology is simply not true. Hard work will be just that: hard work. Without a game plan in mind, it’s difficult to move ahead even with good results.

Companies have yet to realize their directives for women in corporate America. On one hand, companies say they want women at the top. On the other hand, they stymie their potential and their ability to move up the corporate ladder. So, what can companies do to rectify this dilemma? They can brand themselves by addressing the progress of the female employee –from the top down.

We all have heard diversity policies and EEOC mandates, but how does this materialize in the real working world. It doesn’t. Executives at these companies need to walk the talk and not spout PC rhetoric. I’ve seen reams of paperwork purporting the facts, but when it comes to implementation that’s a different story.

Take a look at the senior management team. How many women are on it? Any? What are the plans to improve the odds? Doesn’t it strike you as strange that women make up more than 50% of the workforce yet only X % at senior levels? The diversity message simply isn’t being practiced.

When an executive discharges PC rhetoric they are really saying, “I can prove that we have a plan.” What they are not saying is how or when they intend to implement it. The truth is that they haven’t reached the heart of the real issues. The majority of women don’t want a handout or a token position. They want their hard work and commitment to count for something besides a paycheck. Yes, money is important but it’s not the spirit of the real issues that companies don’t understand.

Many personal issues are different for women than they are for men: maternity leave, flex time, telecommuting, and time off for elderly parent care or sick children. The company policy covers many of these issues. Exercising one of these perks is not supposed to be detrimental to one’s career. The reality of the message may be different. “Yes, you will have a job when you come back from maternity leave but don’t count on that promotion.”

Over the years, I have been told by senior executives that women don’t make it to the top because they need special treatment (listed above). The truth is that the brightest and most talented resources don’t need special treatment. What they need is an accurate understanding of these issues and why they are relevant in modern society. Women do have more of these responsibilities than their male counterparts do, and it’s up to them to figure out how to make it work.

That doesn’t mean “having it all.” It means companies understanding of the importance of these issues to the working woman. The fact remains that women reap the benefits of hard work and a job well done. Executives need to understand what makes the working woman tick. (It’s not about the money.)

We spend the majority of our day working and it’s important to enjoy what we do and feel fulfilled about our work commitment. Family needs and issues are just a part of the equation. Until companies realize that women will continue to leave in corporate America in droves for opportunities that allow them to enjoy what they do and feel fulfilled.

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Q and A: Financial Independence Tips For Women From Coni Cecil

By: Kristin Johnson

As a woman Netpreneur, I sat down via e-mail with article-announce regular contributor, Internet marketer and women’s financial consultant Coni Cecil of www.cecilfreedom.com. She shared her Internet marketing and financial wisdom for women on the Net. The quote on her site from Eleanor Roosevelt is inspiring: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Q: I really admire your emphasis on marketing and financial freedom, especially the quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. What circumstances in women’s lives help or hinder them to achieve their financial freedom?

A: Well Kristin, I think time and other commitments and obligations can be a hindrance to achieving financial freedom. As for help, women are very strong and the determination to succeed and provide for our families is incentive enough to achieve financial freedom. Certainly, the assistance of other people is a huge help, after you realize that you do not have to go it alone.

Q: How can women profit from resources you belong to, such as LeadLightning.com and MasterListBuilder.com, which your link www.cecilfreedom.com points to?

A: Lead Lightning is a fantastic tool to use for promoting your business.

It is very affordable for what you receive, and in fact, I truly believe it is under priced. Right now I’m only using 2 of the 25 auto responders [they give], but just knowing that I have access to 23 more for promotion of New Business, with no extra cost, allows me room for growth.

I will soon be using them for my articles, so you see, I most likely will be using all of them at some point in time.

As for MasterListBuilder, I believe in Joel Christopher, and one area I need help with is building my list. Joel knows what he is talking about, and I trust him.

Q: How did you design your Web site for Internet marketing success, and how do good design principles contribute to marketing success?

A: I didn’t design my website. Lise Galipeau did. She’s a friend of mine, and that is one of her strengths. It is not one of mine. In fact that’s another area where I rely on other people. We are all good at certain things, and Lise is very good at what she does.

In my opinion, for marketing success, you have to earn trust. I don’t like bells & whistles. Just give me plain simple language and honest, trustworthy, dependable programs and people.

Q: Women have more of an eye for design, for ease of us, for connection and information finding than your average male geek. Do you feel the time is ripe for women to make a success on the Web? What do statistics show about women Netpreneurs, many of whom started businesses out of hobbies or craft businesses?

A: The time is absolutely ripe for women to excel on the Web. After all, we are excelling at everything else, so why not this. (Smile)

Statistics show that women Netpreneurs are everywhere. Take a look around. Women are realizing that maybe they can make a living doing something they love and believe in. We aren’t getting any younger. Many of us prefer to spend our time on something rewarding. I think we also want to make a difference in this world, which of course brings us satisfaction.

Q: Who are the women’s success stories of the Web? Who do you admire?

A: Oh gosh, there are so many, and I admire more than I can possibly name here.

Lise Galipeau of www.womenscorner.com
Sam Knight of www.boomer4ever.com
Stephany Harper of www.sunnydays4ever.com
Kathy Collins of www.copingtoday.com
Jan Tallent-Dandridge of www.rimdigest.com

Q: Tell me about your involvement with Juvio.com. Would you classify yourself as a geek?

A: I am definitely not a geek. (At least in my opinion – grin) That is why I have Juvio. Most of that technical stuff is over my head, so Juvio not only helps me with problems, but they assist in the learning process too. I love this program. It makes me feel less alone here in the Internet World, and I can count on them to be there for me. Another under priced service that allows me to grow.

Q: How did you join MyPlace and would you recommend it to other Women Netpreneurs?

A: Thanks to Sam Knight, I found Lise Galipeau, and it just felt right. Like MyPlace. The honesty is there, and that is the most important thing to me. I’m a Leo, and we are very loyal. I would definitely recommend MyPlace to other Women Netpreneurs. They will not be disappointed.

Q: In terms of Internet marketing besides the two tools I mentioned, I know that you contribute articles to Article-Announce. What other avenues have worked for you? What avenues have not worked and why? How have you learned from these mistakes?

A: Article Announce is very helpful, and I read a lot of the articles that are sent my way. The learning experience is great.

Barry Baker has also helped me a lot. He is the Owner of usaezine.com and I write Coni’s Corner for him that is published every Monday in “Today’s Power Motivational”.

Patricia Whaley of www.enchantedwealth.com gave me my first chance, when she agreed to let me write a weekly column for her ezine. Her encouragement made all of the difference.

Lead Programs do not seem to work for me, but that is probably my fault, because I tend to be phone shy.

Writing is my passion, and that’s why I get help with so many other things. It’s not that I don’t want to learn to build a Web site, etc., it’s just that I prefer to spend my time writing. It just makes me happy.

I’ve learned that being a Netpreneur is about building relationships first, and then your Business.

Q: Thank you, Coni.

Visit Coni Cecil at: www.cecilfreedom.com and www.conicecil.com.

What are YOUR dreams?

About the Author: Kristin Johnson is an award-winning writer who maintains her own Web site, http://www.poemsforyou.com. She is is co-author of the “enthusiastically recommended” Midwest Book Review pick, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadable media kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at

Working Woman Quick Tip: Musical Therapy

Musical Therapy – Destress on your way home from work with a CD to fit the mood. Find several types of music you enjoy for your different “moods,” and play the appropriate cd for the day you had on your way home. Play it loud and sing along…or play it soft and mellow out. You know what you need…Then, when you get home, you will have had the time you needed to get it all out! Trust me, your better half and/or family will LOVE you for it!

Copyright © Lara Velez

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