(bizchicksrule.com)

Hope you get a giggle out of this!

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Copyright 2008 - Bridget Wright

Biz Chicks Rule

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Biz Chicks Rule

OK, so a lot of people like the McCain/Palin mix for different reasons. Many women are just politically intoxicated with the idea of (potentially) having a female in power in the White House. After all, a woman in the White House means a lot for Women’s Rights, Civil Rights and perhaps will even change or level the playing field just a bit for the females. But one thing still bothers me…
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Biz Chicks Rule

(Disclaimer: This post is NOT meant to ignite or offend any particular political party or opinion. It is simply meant to shed light on and analogize the correlation between politics, business and women)

Pimp -noun
1. a person, esp. a man, who solicits customers for a prostitute or a brothel, usually in return for a share of the earnings; pander; procurer.

[Image Source: sxc.hu]

Whenever a woman allows herself to be exploited in any manner or for any reason, she is selling out, or rather “pimped out” and her pimp gets a huge chunk of the revenue, giving her a small token. The pimp sees multiple benefits in having this woman do his bidding, finding the highest bidder for his wares (her). He convinces her that she is valuable, but the only way she will excel is if she lets him control guide her towards success.

But is it ok if she likes it?

Pimps have nothing to lose in the pimp-nating(?), but everything to gain. The pimp always fares well, coming out on top, while the pimp-ed does not, come out on, well, not on top. (clearing throat). Read more

A few weeks ago, a business friend of mine decided that she would give homeschooling a shot IN ADDITION to her home-based business of web designing and graphics illustration. Seems that little Johnny is having some trouble in school and needs more “focused attention” so my friend decided she’s the only one who can do that. Really? Anyway, she asked me what I thought about it, and you know me…

I tried homeschooling ONCE about seven years ago when my then oldest child was in preschool and my husband got this **bright** idea that it would be neat to have homeschooled children. He had seen a spelling bee on television that weekend and “had given it a lot of thought” and decided that the Wright children, in fact, would be a homeschooled bunch, by golly. Yeah, right.

Well, the first week was uneventful with the usually mild-mannered toddler whining that she wanted to play with her friends and go outside. I explained to her that her daddy had decided that she did not need any friends because she would have a Harvard education. And, going outside was only a necessity to be enjoyed by who suffered through *gasp* public school all day long and needed to run and skip in order to break free of the mind control mechanisms that institutionalized education had thrust upon them. With a dazed look in her eyes, my daughter decided that I had in fact thrust some sort of mind control on her and she didn’t know or care about what the heck I had said. She wanted to go outside.

After a brief period of telling my toddler that she had to learn her ABC’s and that she could count if she only tried, she and I just could not take it any longer. On day number six, I immediately went back up to the pre-school and beeeggggggeeeedd them to take her back into the program. No luck. They had just filled the position about two days before with a family that had homeschooled, but decided that it wasn’t for them. They wanted mind-numbing public school education. Good for them.

During the time that I was a home-schooling work-at-home-mom of a four year old and a six month old, I did not get any significant work done. My life was a daily conondrum of lesson plans, breastfeeding, cleaning, cooking, coercing, convincing and cajoling us towards becoming a happy and well-rounded family!! We were so happy, that I decided I couldn’t contain the happiness any longer. It was too much for me and I had to let it out. I let it out so well, I almost became a single mom, if you get my drift.

So here I am, several prescriptions of Zoloft and cases of Red Bull later, children in institutionalized education, a messy house and me happily consulting and freelancing to my heart’s desire. So, when you ask me if I think homeschooling and women in business go together, all I have to say is can I get a refill on my Zoloft?!

Biz Chicks Rule

Ideas are a dime a dozen right? Maybe not. Maybe they’re $10,000 for one.

Ideablob has a monthly contest each, well, month to see who can submit the BEST business idea ever. The winner wins $10K and all bragging rights. What would you do with your winnings if you had that kind of money?

Me? I’d dump the whole thing into a marketing campaign for my business(es) and reap the rewards. But of course, in order to win, I’d have to come up with a novel business idea. The devil is in the details, isn’t he?

Go here to find out more about the contest and to enter your business idea. I am. Good luck!
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Copyright 2008 - Bridget Wright

Biz Chicks Rule

[Photo Source: Getty Images]

Tonight’s speech by Michelle Obama will be a defining moment for Obama’s campaign. It will be a time when presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s campaign will be further defined - - by Michelle, the woman who has been often herself been branded as being “deflating” and “humiliating” to Barack by referring to him as a “regular man.”

Tonight will be Michelle’s chance to convince voters why we should or need to vote for this “regular man”.

What to watch for tonight: Things could start off with a bang. Tonight’s primetime speaker is Michelle Obama, who will be tasked to sell her husband to the public. She was one of Obama’s best surrogates during the Dem primaries, but Republicans and even some Democrats believe she won’t sell with swing voters. So definitely pay attention to her remarks. Also on tap for tonight is a video tribute to Ted Kennedy, but NBC’s Ann Curry reported on TODAY that Kennedy is in Denver and might make an appearance at the convention. That could be a nice moment for the Democrats that has nothing to do with Obama or Clinton.

Full Article

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Copyright 2008 - Bridget Wright

Biz Chicks Rule

Since blogging here at Biz Chicks Rule every week, I have met a ton of awesome business women! Some of you are savvy, fierce business gals, while others are methodical, careful and placid. And then there are the hil-a-rious ones who keep us on our toes while others of you have been quick to let us know what you think. Love it!

Just curious to see what kind of business women you all are and what you think about the Biz Chicks Rule blog. Let us know what you’ve liked, disliked, want to see more of, less of or even more of something that’s perhaps off-topic. Take the survey/poll to the right and let me know where you fall in the scheme of things. Thanks for your help!

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Copyright 2008 - Bridget Wright

As work-at-home moms, we work multiple jobs in addition to being busy moms. On any given day, you can probably name five “jobs” that you do in the course of that day.

Here is a cute article that I found written by a stay-at/work-at-home mom who “manipulated” her resume. What can you add to the list?

Wendy Surber
123 Hair Torn Out Ln.
Premature Gray, Ca. 43210
Phone: (805) IAM-INHELL

Objectives:
To get through at least one day without the uncontrollable urge to runaway from home! To improve communication gaps. Such as figuring out what part of “no” and “stop fighting” don’t the understand.

Employment/Experience Summary:

Current Employment
As of July 21, 1999
Stay at home mom of three beautiful little monsters!

December 12, 1996
Gave birth to a screaming cat!
Nursed every hour and a half
Used as projectile vomiting target after nursing sessions
Helped her find her thumb when Binky wouldn’t work

December 20, 1995
After 4.5 hours of pushing, got her big fat head out!
Functioned on only 4 hours of sleep
Multi tasking

Additional Experiences

Line cook
Maid
Chauffer
Referee
Toilet Trainer
Doctor
Appointment Setter
Outfit coordinator
Safety Captain
Crossing Guard
Nightly Lock-Down Warden
Activities Director
Kisser of Boo-Boos

Education

I have learned:
Showers on a daily basis are possible, when to aim an over nursed infant at the floor, eat after they go to bed, always make sure to have the snuggle blankets in the car. If not, then plan on turning the car around. The sound of a joint popping can and will wake a sleeping baby, no such thing as peeing alone, a bored child is a destructive child, children are drawn to puddles like gold diggers are to rich men with weak hearts!

Skills:
Can get all three to adjust to routine changes, know when a stormy fight is going to start (my knee starts acting up), bathe a baby, make dinner, and do the dishes all at the same time.

Personal interests:
Researching the nicest Looney bins to commit my fried and weary nerves.

Blog Link
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Copyright 2008 - Bridget Wright

A while back, I interviewed Kelly, our Business Channel Editor here at b5media and one of the questions that I asked her in the interview was, “Who was/is your business mentor?” Surprisingly, Kelly said she didn’t have one, had never had one and probably wouldn’t be getting one soon. I don’t think she hates mentors, I just think she simply does not have a need for one. A lot of business women are like that.

I, for one, do not, did not and have not ever had a mentor. And believe me, there were times when I did want one, or at least thought I did. Those were the tims when I wanted someone to tell me what to do! Mentors are generally supposed to help you along, offering advice and gentle nudging where necessary and sometimes even being a sounding board for inexperienced souls. But what I have found remarkable is something that I’m sure will be controversial. Although there are numerous women in business who have or need business mentors, but in my humble opinion:
Mentors are useless.

Before you come-apart, let me tell you why I say this. Unless your mentor has experienced the same or similar business challenges that you have, how much sage, applicable advice can they offer to you as a business woman? I mean, really, can they truly feel your pain or know which direction you should take your business if it’s failing? Now so as not to confuse mentors with consultants, let me explain the difference in the two:

Mentors act as models, advisors if you will, to give the apprentice an idea of how they can and should conduct themselves and their business. They’re supposed to help YOU develop your skills, face your challenges and work through situations by offering you real-life, applicable solutions that they have used for themselves. They’re attuned to you and (should) know exactly what you need. No, they don’t do the work for you, but they should feel about 60-80% passionate about your business and have an interest in seeing you accomplish your goals.

Consultants offer their expert opinion and advice for a fee. Period. Consultants can and possibly are concerned about the outcome of a situation, but generally are focused on the bottom line and a clear-cut business arrangement. They offer a professional, expert service. They get paid. End of story.

What I am afraid of, as it pertains to business women and mentors, is the idea that mentors will offer you as a business woman a “one-up” with your competitors or even a significant boost in your business. Just not so. Mentors are just unpaid consultants. They listen to you and offer advice, but are not compensated. They just get the chance to feel good. And to further complicate it, if you don’t follow the mentor’s advice, you may have possibly wasted your time and hers. Why bother?

If it seems that I have a “thing” against mentoring, I may possibly. But first, I want to hear what you all have to say as it pertains to this business of mentoring and mentorship. Have you ever been mentored? Have you ever had a business mentor? Do you want one? Do you think it would make a significant difference in the way you do business?