A Circuitous Route

Meg’s amazing work ethic started in college where she graduated in 3 years and worked 35 hours/week on the side to pay for tuition and living expenses. She said you want it and appreciate it more when you are earning your way through college. Her undergraduate degree was minted in 1984 when the economy was awful and jobs were hard to come by. In her home state of Texas the bottom dropped out of the oil market, including her father’s business. But she was scrappy and landed a job in a bank in Houston and developed her own path which vacillated between marketing and in heavy quantitative and analytical work.

Her family valued higher education and all of her relatives had a Masters degree. Meg set her sights on law school but was discouraged by her family and instead pursued an MBA. She drove 75 miles each way to attend night school to earn the MBA. Some of her classmates were driving 200 miles to get to class and the novel concept of going to school at night was truly appreciated by this first generation of working professionals seeking advanced degrees.

Growing up in the energy driven Texas career world, Meg thought this might be a good fit for her. But instead she bounced around working jobs she knew were not right but hoping to find something that was a better fit. Progressive for her day, Meg shared that “It was not cool to manage your own career at that time.” People were loyal to a company and worked there for life – happy or not. But Meg needed variety and intellectual stimulation to make her career sing.

Lesson of a Change Agent

One of her career highlights includes serving essentially as the CFO of the Houston Symphony. Working for the symphony Board of Directors she was well positioned to network with the movers and shakers of Texas energy and oil. From the symphony, Meg was recruited to work at Enron which at the time was a blue chip company at the pinnacle of its success.

Meg learned how to link all of her transferable skills into the corporate package in the form of Investor Relations. This new IR work was very comprehensive and allowed her to serve as a liaison to all departments and to Wall Street. Meg talks about the spectrum of a change agent from the bull in the china shop whose job is to fix and repair damage to the emersion specialist who gets into an organization, absorbs the culture and slowly begins a ripple effect of change that later turns into a wave.

The bull in the china shop gets in and gets out while the emersion change agent is there for the long haul. As much as she wanted to be around for the long haul, Meg’s tenure at many of her companies was short term, and this time was no different.

Pre Enron, Meg landed all her jobs through ads in the newspapers. The world has changed quite a bit in the last 20 years since it’s rare to see job ads in print for executive positions. The day she accepted the Enron position, her Dad was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and this news prevented her from diving in emotionally to the new position. Despite the lack of emotional connection, Meg distinguished herself as a workhorse and learned how to, and how not to do business from this industry leader.

The Enron culture began to change quickly and Meg experienced the “war for talent hire” when Enron recruited the best of the best not necessarily knowing what to do with them until they arrived. The philosophy was if you find great people, you can figure out how to utilize them once they are inside the company. Things changed dramatically with new leaders at Enron and true to form, Meg left soon after, recruited by Dynegy.

Ride the Wave until it Crashes

Meg rode the wave at Dynegy as the company was hailed on Wall Street until, of course, Enron crashed bringing Dynegy down with it in flames. Working 22 hour days, 7 days a week was not enough to keep her career there alive. She saw the stock go from its highest price in history to a paltry 50 cents a share.

Once reveled and suddenly shunned, Meg found herself in a position of having to fight for her personal reputation and the right to her career. The other option was for her to tuck her tail and give up but Meg was a fighter and knew she still had something to offer. Meg began to work with headhunters to try and resurrect her career and one interviewer actually stated that she simply couldn’t trust anyone who had worked for Enron. The blue chip company that raised her clout in the corporate arena was now an anathema preventing her from moving on.

While the Enron and Dynegy waves crashed mightily, Meg remained focused and determined to power on. Working with a coach and transition specialist, Cecilia Rose, Meg was able to separate the crash of her company from herself and re focus on her strengths and abilities. She still maintained strong relationships and references on Wall Street and in the corporate world, which when finally sought after, were accepted and honored.

Meg did let some time pass to heal her psyche and get healthy again. It was if her power suit was embroidered with a scarlet “E” for Enron and “D” for Dynegy in the eyes of recruiters and headhunters who could not see the individual but only focused on the companies for which she worked.

The fall out of the mid stream sub sector was palpable in Texas and Houston as a city was sad, embarrassed, and in desperate need of recovery. The hard recognition came for Meg when she realized that there were no jobs at her level to be had in Houston so she had to look elsewhere to reinvent herself and her career.

One Step Back Equals Two Steps Forward

According to Meg – “Crisis is an outstanding education, once you survive it.” With the realities of her family’s new financial future, Meg and her husband made the difficult decision for him to stay home with the kids who in 2000 were 11 and 7 years of age. Meg wore the guilt on her sleeve of not seeing the kids as much as she would have liked – she mourned the fact that she did not have time to nurture. But, studies show that most C-level working women have husbands at home who watch the kids.

Meg’s husband has always been supportive of her career and she knows how lucky she is in that regard. It took 9 months for Meg to get back on the proverbial career horse. Finally, headhunters and hiring managers were willing to look at the body of her career work and get past the Enron/Dynegy fiasco. Checking references (finally!) they began to see what Meg Nollen really had to offer.

One step back was actually a huge opportunity to move forward and past the crisis that consumed Meg’s life for almost a year. Georgia Pacific offered her a position in Investor Relations and afforded her the opportunity to reinvent her professional persona and play to her strengths once again.

The hiring manager at Georgia Pacific believed that Meg was fire tested and survived with credibility which has become a mantra that has served her well. Meg has always been a facilitator and at GP, she relocated her family to Georgia and facilitated a change that led to another new beginning.

Prove the Naysayers Wrong

Meg did her job so well at GP that in 30 months after she started, the company was sold. She marketed the company “too” successfully and attracted a buyer for the whole company. Serving on the Board of GP was the leader of H.J. Heinz and so Meg landed her current position there as senior Vice President of Investor Relations in the corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Far away from her Texas roots, Meg’s navigation of the corporate career labyrinth did not come easily, or without sacrifice for her and her family. Meg has regained her reputation and is successful driving similar results and relationships at H.J. Heinz. She is happy to have family and good friends and her boys are well adjusted young men now completing college and high school respectively.

Meg is at a stage in her life that she strives to be happy regardless of her environment. Literally having worked in cities all across the country, she is happiest when she is with her family now – no matter where that may be.

While her future is bright at H.J. Heinz, Meg does aspire to become an adjunct faculty member at a university some day and retire in Texas where she can pay-it-forward to the next generation of aspiring C-level women.

Meg’s Moxy Is Paving the Way for Other Women

When I looked at the H.J. Heinz website to see the Executive Management team of the company, 32 profiles were listed and Meg was only one of two women in the elite group. Cheers to H.J. Heinz for being so progressive since many of their corporate counterparts do not have any women in the upper echelons of their organizations. Meg is really a pioneer in the workforce and continues to pave the way for future generations of women executives. While the corporate arena is not for everybody, and certainly not the faint of heart, Meg has endured laborious hours and earned the respect and credibility of her male co-workers with grit, determination, and measurable results.

Meg talked about the intense times on her executive career path when she would get only a few hours of sleep after a 20 hour work day, take a quick shower and go back into the trenches to solve problems for her companies. Her work energized her and with the support of her husband, she was able to create the financial freedom her family has grown to appreciate.

I asked Meg about diversity and if during her career she felt we, as a country had taken significant steps forward in that regard. Meg shared that we still have a long way to go to achieve true diversity and inclusion for women and other minority groups but we were making progress. She believes that the needle is indeed moving and points to the fact that a generation of seasoned executives now has daughters in the workforce. This awareness is helping to instigate change. When it hits home on that level, progress will start to be made on a grand scale.

Today, Meg believes that C-level women have to work harder than their male counterparts to prove themselves, but will achieve recognition and reward for their efforts. So whether you are in the corporate world or pursuing another sector of the work world, the blood, sweat, and tears that Meg Nollen has shed at work will indeed help all women in many different careers for generations to come.

Meg’s Advice and Action Steps:

• The C-suite demands a 24/7 commitment – if you want it, you have to work for it. Take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
• My mantra is to always perform but the bar I set for myself is my own. You should consider setting your own bar as well.
• The needle is moving regarding equality for women and there is a now a generation of executives with daughters in the workplace. This is becoming an empathetic catalyst for change.
• Don’t let anyone fault you for being ambitious and don’t ever let others perceptions of you impact your performance.
• Your life and career values will change over time so be aware of what is important to you at every moment.

This program included a full scholarship for Joyce to earn her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Working as a Systems Engineer, she loved her job with the company and discovered she was better suited to program management than the theoretical design of engineering.

The Maytag Woman

Joyce worked in high profile defense corporations over the next several years flexing her muscles with testing engine and flight control systems for various aircraft. She was responsible for identifying/isolating problems, failure analysis, and communicating to engineers about possible fixes. She reported, while on field assignment, often she felt like the Maytag Woman searching for things to do at work since there were rarely problems to report on the fully developed system. She worked with other organizations that used the same system on their flight simulator and forged a new opportunity for the company in the area of field engineering support.

Joyce longed for more challenges at work and also yearned to be closer to her family in Virginia since her job at the time kept her in upstate New York. She left the avionics industry and moved to working with sonar systems on submarines. Later she moved into the corporate sector again looking for a better fit.

The Tipping Point

Joyce did all the right things trying to overcome the typical corporate promotion hurdles. She networked, earned stellar performance reviews, and even had an internal sponsor to help advocate on her behalf. Joyce shared that even though she had significant experience, the educational pedigree, and the commitment to grow within the company, she was never taken seriously or felt fulfilled in her career.

That was the catalyst that made Joyce seriously reflect upon her future and her options. For years, the idea of Medical School was gnawing at her psyche. Joyce was a nurturer and often took care of family and friends when they were sick. But could she leave a lucrative position and go back to school and start over?

A consummate planner, Joyce decided to explore the medical world before she made any rash decisions about leaving the technical field. She joined the local Fire Department as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) volunteer. She attended Fire Academy at night after work to train for her EMT certification and eventually began volunteering nights and weekends.

Joyce shared that her stress relief was going to the fire station and working EMT shifts. She loved the new adventure, camaraderie, and often slept at the station, showered, and then went off to her day job as an engineer. Sometimes after a full day in engineering land, she immediately reported to the fire station energized to work another EMT shift.

The World is Your Oyster

Up until this point, Joyce’s newfound desire to be a nurse was a secret she kept from her colleagues. But the light bulb moment finally happened when Joyce had the courage to say out loud: “I care about people!” She was more interested in working with people and focusing on the holistic care of mind/body/spirit than in fixing engineering/management problems. Joyce unlocked her true passion and enrolled in Nursing School.

She grappled with the idea of Medical School instead of nursing but realized that her strengths were in taking care of people, instead of focusing on the disease or injury as physicians do.  A woman of strong faith, Joyce has always relied on her spiritual convictions to guide her and she believes this decision was part of a divine guidance and provision.

Leaving a solvent position and a salary was a scary proposition so Joyce worked hard to save money before she took the plunge. She learned to live modestly and budgeted for a Bachelor’s of Nursing degree and the pre-requisite courses she needed before even starting the program.

Joyce knew her initial earning potential as a nurse would be much less than what she was making as a program manager. She learned to budget based on what she truly needed versus what she wanted and realized with “…planning, faith, and God’s provision she could make things work financially.”

Have No Fear

With her faith and the support of her family and friends, Joyce passed the 15 month academic nursing program with flying colors. Her EMT training really helped her in school and with the hands-on practical training of the nursing profession. She was passionate, regimented, and committed to helping others. Interestingly, Joyce was in good company as many of her fellow nursing students were also career changers.

When graduation came in December 2009, the economy was in a full recession and the job market had changed from when she had started the program 15 months earlier. Luckily, nursing jobs were still available and Joyce was a top student with EMT experience, and she had the professional savvy of a career reinvention to distinguish herself as a candidate. Her top three choices were to work in: Intensive Care, an Operating Room, or an Emergency Room environment.

Joyce took her dream job with a local hospital Emergency Department and is thriving in her new role. Still a consummate planner, Joyce is already envisioning her future career journey in the medical profession and is considering becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

While she is the new rookie nurse in town, Joyce is enjoying her new profession. She doesn’t worry about tomorrow since she is doing what she loves and has God on her side. For the first time in her professional life she is working with mostly women and enjoying the camaraderie of her co-workers.

Joyce knows she made the right decision every day when she works with patients who look up at her and say, “Thank you for being here.” with a knowing glance without even uttering a word.

Joyce’s Advice and Action Steps:

Joyce is inspired by the following scripture passages to get her through good days and bad.

• Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

• Matthew 6:34 (NIV) – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Quote:

“Make sure your career is something that will fulfill you. Don’t get distracted by obstacles in your way. Be prepared and keep your eye on the prize. Find what you love and do it!”

- Joyce Boyd

The Returnship® came to be when employers realized that many women who left the workforce had trouble getting back in because hiring managers feared their gap-time away from work.

At Goldman Sachs, the Returnship® is a ten week program with opportunities around the globe from New York City, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Salt Lake City, among other destinations. The returnees, as Goldman calls them, work on substantive business challenges tailored to their unique strengths and professional experiences. The talent pool consists of seasoned workers so the goal is to provide them with advanced opportunities so they can play an integral role on a team for a short period of time.

In addition to actual work tasks, the women participate in professional development courses, including self promotion, influence and presence, mentor relationships, and current trends in the financial sector which are relevant to their work at Goldman Sachs.

The Sara Lee Corporation launched their Returnship® program providing opportunities for mid-career individuals re-entering the workforce after having been away for a number of years. Their pilot program was so successful that it is now an integrated part of the company’s ongoing recruitment efforts.

Mentoring for women in the program is essential in both companies to assist the newly re-engaged workers with transitioning and guidance to navigate the realities of work and home life more successfully.

This opportunity is the ultimate test drive for the organization and the candidate to determine best fit. Often it gives candidates a boost of self confidence as they immerse themselves back into the working world after a significant time away.

Cheers to Goldman Sachs and Sara Lee for embracing this incredible opportunity for a positive on-ramp back into the profession. It’s a win-win for all involved and a direct line to hiring new talent. Goldman reports that most of their Returnship® classes result in a 50% conversion rate to full-time hires, in roles that these women may not have sought out on their own before the 10 week program.

The Returnship® signals to all women who take a conscious break from their careers that if they want to go back to work, they can. Let’s hope more companies and organizations take advantage of this great re-entry opportunity to get back to work. Because taking a break does not mean you lose your skills or intelligence, it just means that you made a decision to prioritize something else in your life for a given time period and that should be applauded!

Before long – “If You’re Happy and You Know It” became “If You’re Hannah and You Know It” and the idea of Name Your Tune was born. Candace’s husband, Eric works in the music industry and he supported the idea of the new business venture and also brought significant skills and expertise to the table. From the beginning, the focus has been on making music fun for children and parents alike. By customizing songs with a child’s name, this wife and husband team has been able to take classic children’s songs to a new place.

Sing a New Song

Candace admittedly has no experience in the music industry but her background in liberal arts and education has provided her with a cadre of transferable skills that help her run the business. Directly after college, Candace hoped to pursue teaching but the lack of opportunities in the education field led her to a position in the retail industry. She was working her way up the management ladder when she became pregnant with Hannah. The plan was to go back right after her maternity leave but Name Your Tune happily took her life in a different direction.

Candace has been active with children and youth in her community through social programs, summer camps and trips abroad so creating a new business about kids was an ideal fit. They started with 9 songs and 800 recorded names. Candace and Eric invented the technology to personalize the songs with a child’s name in the recording process.

Eric’s music background came in very handy with this new business venture. As the company co-founder, he has been active in the Canadian music scene for 15+ years and has experience with media relations and acquisitions for Koch Entertainment which proved extremely valuable for Name Your Tune.

Bringing Home the Bacon and Cooking It

In the beginning, Candace admits she was useless around computers as technology was not her forte. But, she is now the company’s one-woman IT department and coordinates the efforts of 4 amazing singers, producers, and a West Coast office, handling most of the day-to-day tasks herself.

Being a mompreneur and a WAHM (work at home mom) means that Candace can be her own boss. She sets her own hours, which lends itself to a flexible schedule so she can balance her varying roles as a mom, wife, daughter, sister, and business owner. While Candace admits to accepting a certain amount of imbalance as a reality to her day, she feels fortunate to be able to work from home and enjoy the little things that she couldn’t do if she worked off site.

While juggling Name Your Tune responsibilities she usually does a few loads of laundry and gets her daughter to and from school daily. She has become the queen of multi-tasking. On an ambitious day this might also include cooking a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce because these are things that she is able to fit in during her work day now.

A Hard Day’s Night

While the work day might sound idyllic, prioritizing her family during the day means that Candace often works at the computer well into the night. Eric is often at her side since this business is truly a joint venture and a family affair. She has his total support and kid coverage when the job requires her working weekends away for promotional events to brand their product. They have developed a partnership and have each other’s backs to cover things on the work and home front.

Since the company launch, Name Your Tune has become the leading personalized CD in the world. Children will hear their name more than 80 times throughout 14 treasured songs and they now have over 4500 names to choose from!

People Magazine called Name Your Tune CDs “This year’s most coveted item.” in 2009.  NBC’s The Today Show calls the CD “Must have baby gear – now that’s something to sing about!” Celebrity parents sporting customized CDs include: Patrick Dempsey, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Debra Messing, Tori Spelling, Denise Richards and many more.

Reality Check

The business is thriving now and going better than Candace and Eric ever expected. But, the start-up costs were significant. Family was very supportive and Candace’s dad is an accountant who shared his financial wisdom and backing for the new company.

With 4 performers and a full studio assembled to record the customized songs, Name Your Tune cost $25,000 to become functional in the very beginning. Candace and Eric also have West Coast partners that manage and grow the business in the states. They see it as a 4-way partnership and each person has a specific job that makes the engine run.

Candace warns other aspiring entrepreneurs to protect themselves legally early on and seek out expert advice from a lawyer. She and Eric sought out the counsel of many specialists to make up for skills they did not possess.  Defining their unique brand in the marketplace has been incredibly important as well as the research required to figure out the nuance of supply and demand in the kid’s music industry.

At the end of the day, Candace is happy as a WAHM but warns other moms to be realistic about what you can commit to while raising your family. “Sometimes you have to learn to live with the fact that the beds aren’t made and the dirty dishes in the sink because you are working and growing your business while raising your kids. And that’s ok!” Candace is still figuring out the delicate balancing act and no two days are alike. She wants her daughter to know that there is more to life than work even though as a WAHM she is never off duty.

Play it Forward

A portion of company proceeds are donated to Hear Here, the non-profit, charitable organization that purchases hearing aids for children through the Hospital for Sick Children. In 2007, Candace also launched a campaign called Play it Forward, a new initiative to support the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund. This effort collects new and pre-loved CDs to be distributed across Canada in support of Music Therapy. With the support and generosity of her customers, friends and colleagues, over 20,000 CDs were collected and distributed last year.

The accolades keep rolling in since Name Your Tune CDs have been named as an iParenting Award winner, the Parent to Parent Award, and in 2010, was nominated for both a Nickelodeon Parent Pick Award and Candace was herself nominated for an RBC Entrepreneur Award.

Out of a great idea, a song or two, and a lot of hard work and enthusiasm, Candace Alper changed her tune and reinvented her career from retail management in waiting to record label entrepreneur.

Candace’s Advice and Action Steps:

• To the WAHMs – don’t underestimate how hard it is to work at home.
• Empower yourself with information and seek help from others who do what you can’t.
• Don’t take things personally, business is business.
• Research the market you want to enter and find out what the needs are. Plan your transition according to what you love and what is needed.

Quote:

“It’s only a good idea if you do it – so do it fully!” Candace Alper

Resources:

Name Your Tune www.nameyourtune.com

Since 2005, Danielle has planned both intimate and large scale weddings and corporate events including some of New York City’s largest and most notable businesses. Located in the Big Apple, Curtain Up Events services the tri-state and greater New York area but Danielle also travels out of state for destination events.

Use Self Discovery for Career Transformation

She shared with me that she hit the wall as a performer and wanted self validation as a person and not just as an actress. It was a vulnerable self discovery process that helped her to realize that she was ready to leave the arts, and a very emotional decision. After many tears and a lot of deliberation about this major life and career change, Danielle was ready to reinvent herself and moved forward with confidence and conviction.

As an actress, she had worked many a catering gig when not performing and since her Mom was a professional caterer, she grew up surrounded by people in the special events industry. After leaving show biz, Danielle developed phenomenal vendor contacts from a 2 ½ year stint at another event planning firm where she worked prior to launching CUE. She received excellent reviews from colleagues and customers who encouraged her to set out her own shingle. Danielle combined her creative flair and business acumen to plan innovative and chic events under her new business name and thus, Curtain Up Events was born.

By the way, Madeline, Danielle’s 2 year old daughter was also born in 2009 and this working Mom was producing events up until a week before she gave birth. She also returned to work shortly after Madeline was born but does the logistical event planning from home to be closer to her daughter.

You Can’t Move Forward Without Taking a Risk

Launching her own business was quite a risk but Danielle is experiencing a validation that she finds very empowering. Her feedback from clients and vendors has been amazing and being her own boss has given her the freedom to make her own business decisions and design her work schedule around raising a daughter.

As a proverbial Stage Manager, Danielle calls all the shots in her business and enjoys having the opportunity to work with fabulous people designing special events that make people joyful.

“If you’ve ever been backstage during a performance, there are so many things going on which keep the show running that the audience never sees.  The same is true for a wedding.  I’m calling a million different cues, but the guests just enjoy a seamless event.  My musical-theater background also enables me to have a long list of theatrical vendors such as Tony-nominated lighting designers and Broadway performers that can make the day a little more spectacular.

Overall, I think the most unique thing I employ is my ability to connect with people.  A wedding is a very personal event and all of the special touches should reflect the couple and not me.  Those special touches will make people say “that wedding was so THEM.”

Her work and creative ideas appear on Brides.com, where she consults for numerous wedding planning stories. She was also a key producer on a team that planned an episode of “My Celebrity Wedding,” which aired on The Style Network.

The challenge for this working Mom is balancing work with raising a daughter. Danielle wants to be an inspiration and a role model for her daughter but admits “… sometimes you just have to budget to have someone watch the baby.”

“My biggest challenge is balancing work and personal life.  My daughter is very important to me and I constantly feel guilty about not spending enough time with her.  I know that I really do give her everything she needs and then some.  But, you’re always second guessing yourself and I’m always working at odd hours.  There’s always work to be done when you own your own company.  Even if the clients are completely taken care of, you still have to tend to the company itself.

You really have to have an amazing support system.  I have wonderful friends and family who are all hands on deck because they love me and believe in my company.  I also have an AMAZING group of women who work with me.  I couldn’t do it without them and I tell them every chance I get. If you think you can do everything yourself, you’ll just be running yourself ragged.  It’s so important to let others help you!!”

The curtain will rise and fall many times throughout our career lifetimes. Danielle found her passion a second time and serves as an inspiration for others who are looking for that next career opportunity. She deserves a standing ovation!

Danielle’s Advice

• Do what you love! I found something else I love, beyond my original career plan. I’m good at it and it makes me happy. Give yourself the opportunity to explore new things and find what you love.
• Take a risk – it could take you someplace wonderful.
• Be open to many things – you just might find something you never thought you would.
• Women can be competitive in the workplace so learn to work together and support each other and everybody wins.
• Always treat people with respect – sometimes it’s contagious and that’s a good thing.

Quote:

Danielle’s mantra is one she learned from Savor the Success – “Give, Give, Get” She is a firm believer in the power of giving and lives by the belief that you can’t please everybody all the time.

Resources

CUE www.curtainupevents.com

Savor the Success: www.savorthesuucess.com

So, Kim created The Urbane Concierge for people like her. But rather than simply start a personal assistant service, she wanted to offer something special. For 30+ years Kim worked as an event planner and global travel arranger, and her clients demanded a unique experience. And that’s what she vowed her new company would offer. Kim’s concierges are experts at delivering intangibles beyond simply serving your needs. They become an extension of yourself, anticipating your requirements and accomplishing tasks the way you would want them to be done. That’s why all her services are customized and Kim wouldn’t have it any other way. Many people start businesses out of necessity, and that is certainly the case with The Urbane Concierge. Kim was ready for a change.

Wanted: Chief of Staff for Your Life

The very definition of an urbane concierge is: affable, balanced, cosmopolitan, courteous, cultivated, gracious and mannerly.  These days, hiring the equivalent of a “Chief of Staff” is more common than you think for everyone from business owners to corporate managers and stay-at-home moms. Yet, as our lives get more complicated, the role of personal assistant has grown in scope to include highly sensitive and confidential tasks such as project managing small business owners, paying bills, managing the individual services for your home (i.e. gardening, housekeeping, remodeling), personal & business travel arrangements, even overseeing your social calendar. There are tremendous benefits to having someone within arm’s reach who can juggle what you never have time for.

Kim believes that in reality, work time is intermixed with personal time.  Her clients need far more than a junior assistant, they need a trusted adviser, a concierge who is standing by 24/7. The Urbane Concierge provides customized packages so clients can focus on their core competencies and strengths and leave what they don’t enjoy doing in the capable hands of a concierge.  In return, life is simplified and clients can have more balance to enjoy non-work time with friends and family.

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

Kim started her business after 30 years in the corporate sector because she was extremely unhappy in her professional life. She felt like she was selling her soul to her employers and had to compromise her values to make a good living. In March of 2007 she quit her job and began to research what else was out there.

Knowing her strengths, she enjoyed the organization and detail orientation skills that came naturally to her as well as helping others. But, she wanted to do it on her own terms. Kim was a frequent conference attendee at the Professional Business Women of California (PBWC) events and became inspired to branch out on her own after attending a PBWC program.

With the input of a SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Businesses) advisor, Kim quickly developed a business plan, a web design logo and applied for a tax ID number.  Soon after she assembled an amazing team of women whom she knew and trusted from her professional contacts and the business officially launched in October of 2007.

She chose the name The Urbane Concierge because she wanted to reflect the unique services offered that distinguished her from other personal assistant companies out there. Branding is especially important for a new business and Kim did a lot of self reflection and research to consider what her special sauce would be in this service industry.

A Very Special Valley Girl

Demographic research was also very important when Kim decided where to focus her business. She has captured a niche market in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco region. 95% of her clients are men and 90% come from within the San Francisco area. These young professionals are very busy and career focused so they need The Urbane Concierge services to handle their multi faceted lives. This high-end clientele is the definition of urbane and they see having a personal concierge as a status symbol as well as a necessity and that’s good for business.

In her business, Kim often has access to a client’s personal bills and medical records, etc. so discretion and confidentiality is of the utmost importance for her and her staff.  Kim relies on having a stellar reputation as well as positive recommendations from clients. This is the number one way that her business grows.

The old adage – The customer is always right! – is alive and well. However, there are some clients that just can’t be helped, according to Kim and she has learned that in some cases she must turn down a client if she thinks it won’t be a good fit for her or her staff. This is the beauty of running your own shop – you can say no to business you don’t want.

Über Organized

In some cases, Kim talks about working herself out of a job because she gets a client so organized that they don’t need her anymore. But that is usually a good thing because it results in a strong referral and the original client most often comes back for another service down the road.

While being organized is what Kim does best, she admits that some clients seem to have monumental tasks to accomplish. She trains her staff to keep their games faces on and to remember that “fear breeds courage” and to persevere at all costs. Since her team is made up 100% of contractors, she hand picks which concierges on her staff are best suited for particular assignments. Kim does the original client intake to build trust and determine how The Urbane Concierge can best help.

At the end of the day, Kim now values that she is completely accountable and responsible for the satisfaction of her clientele. She runs her business on integrity and trust and feels like she is making a contribution in the lives of real people that she gets to know very well. Developing these strong professional relationships has given her a newfound satisfaction on the job and she enjoys being her own boss.

One-Stop Shop

The goal is to make the client aware that a concierge is a one-stop-shop for all of their needs. Kim offers customized packaged and pricing for each client based on what they require. A sampling of services includes, but is not limited to:

•           Appointment setting

•           Home life organizer

•           Project Managing Small Business Owners

•           Travel & event planner

•           Personal shopper

•           Errand runner/ courier

•           Home greeter

•           Pet care

•           Project manager

Your Wish is My Command

Kim has developed packages and customized services for individual and corporate clients so the possibilities are endless depending on what a person needs. The first question in an intake is usually about cost. Why should they employ someone to do what they usually do for free? Kim has them to fill out her Urbane Concierge Time/Cost Assessment, something she encourages clients to do before they even make an initial appointment. Suddenly, their mindset changes and they realize they actually need a concierge because Kim adeptly shows them that their time is valuable and time = money.

Here is an example from one of Kim’s customers. The client billed $300/hour as a business coach. She also estimated she spent 10 hours per week running errands, shopping, and so on. That is $3,000 per week at her billing rate, $156,000 a year! After employing The Urbane Concierge, she not only saved money and time, but also found she had more energy to devote to both her business and her personal life.

Studies have shown that 75% of employees handle personal responsibilities while on the job. To make matters worse, 92% of employees admit to taking personal time off just to keep on top of their errands and personal responsibilities. Kim’s business mission is to take care of people’s needs so they can focus on their core competencies and enjoy life more.

Time Flies

The business launch in October of 2007 seems like more than 3 years ago and Kim is thriving as a business owner.  In 2009, she was named one of the Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs by Savor the Success.  In 2010, Kim was awarded a full scholarship by Wells Fargo for the Fearless Entrepreneur Program.  Future goals include continuing to build her clientele as well as her team of experienced concierges so she can focus more on growing the business and handling select clients.   She is conscious about staying on top of current trends, techniques, and technologies to better serve her clients.

Kim is now living her philosophy that time is money and she appreciates having control over her own time now. She has numerous client testimonials on her site that endorse The Urbane Concierge and validate that Kim’s career reinvention was well worth it!

Kim’s Advice and Action Steps:

•           Find the right people when building your staff.

•           Be tenacious for what you really want.

•           Realize that some clients can’t be helped and that is no reflection on you –   simply move on.

•           Use technology to your best advantage. Keep abreast of new gadgets, programs and features that can help you in your work and life.

Quote:

“People have hired me because of me.” Kim Daly

Resources:

The Urbane Concierge www.theurbaneconcierge.com

Savor the Success www.savorthesuccess.com

Professional Business Women of California http://www.pbwc.org/

SCORE http://www.score.org/index.html

Wells Fargo Fearless Entrepreneur Program

http://www.futurewomenleaders.net/entrepreneurship-program

But today’s entry is not just about Lisa’s book – it’s about something she shared in her recent newsletter that struck me. You may have heard of the Pareto Principle – otherwise known as the 80/20 rule. This concept illustrates the reality of unequal distribution when in most cases 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

Lisa went on to share examples such as 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients and 20% of the work we do consumes 80% of our time and resources. Most of us only wear 20% of the clothes in our closet on a regular basis!

The bottom line, as Lisa so aptly describes is that 20% of what we do is vital and 80% of what we do is trivial. So, from all our daily activities – only 20% produce meaningful results. The goal is to identify the 20 % that matters so we can be proactive instead of reactive and more in control of the productive way we use our precious time. We must remind ourselves to focus on the 20% each day that really matters in work and life so we can produce the most positive and successful results.

Likewise, if you play to your strengths, you will use the 20% of your time even more effectively because you will be firing on all cylinders and working efficiently at what you do best. The bonus is that you will also be enjoying the process because you are honoring your strengths.

So – cheers to Lisa Montanaro for reminding us of the value of the 80/20 rule if you use it to your advantage. I hope you will check out her book, she really is the solutions expert!

I have seen people make career choices based on how much money they will be making but Aaker reminds us that few actually consider how they will be using their time “…whether they can control their time, who they will spend their time with, and what activities they will spend their time on.” Since we spend most of our waking hours at work – our time is something we should consider very seriously in our career decision making.

“Money itself (e.g., thinking about money) is misaligned with happiness-inducing behaviors, whereas thinking about time (e.g., how you are spending time, where you are spending your time) tends to foster these types of happiness-inducing behaviors. How you choose to spend your time significantly influences your happiness.” according to Aaker.

This goes beyond negotiating for flex time and work-from-home options – it’s about the relationship between the resource of time and happiness. While the majority of research to date has focused on how money can or cannot make individuals happy, the newer research about time and happiness is finally starting to get some attention.

Mogilner shared that people with meaningful social connections are happier than those without them. Spending time with individuals you like increases your happiness while time spent with those you dislike, or spending time alone, results in a drop in happiness levels. The three women, with input from additional researchers extracted 5 time-spending happiness principles:

Spend time with the right people. The greatest happiness is achieved when you interact with people you like. You have control over this in your personal life as well as your career life so consider this when making a career move, or re-frame collegial relationships at your existing job to make them more palatable.

Spend time on the right activities. Seek out activities that energize you and make you happy. You may still have to clean your closet or pay the bills but focus on the activities that bring you joy so you can relish that time with positive energy.

Enjoy experiences without spending time actually doing them. Research shows that daydreaming is a happiness inducing activity. When pondering your dream vacation or a special event, your brain sends out happy vibes that give you pleasure. Anticipation can be a very pleasurable act so dream-on!

Expand your time. We still only have 24 hours in each day so focusing on the here and now can increase happiness levels. Taking a deep breath can also have the same effect. Focusing on the future can induce anxiety in some who feel as if they are running out of time which wastes the precious moments of the present. So, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment you are in.

Be aware that happiness changes over time. We experience time differently as we age. Many younger people equate happiness with excitement while older individuals often equate happiness with peacefulness. So, go with the flow as your life changes over time and notice the shifts in your happiness and what you need to find meaning.

Bottom line – the researchers confirmed that spending time with the people you love and doing things you enjoy is the best road to happiness.

A Circuitous Route to Career Bliss

Moving from a secure and high powered career in law to the world of an entrepreneur was no easy task. Ellen discussed the transition with friends, family, and her husband, all of whom supported her in this daring new career move. She phased into landscaping keeping her hand in the legal world part-time, at first. Ellen worked on friends’ properties and eventually got referrals from them and a local nursery.

Building and stewarding client relationships is something that Ellen did regularly as an attorney and this skill transferred well into her new business. She enjoyed the immediate connection with new clients and the process of developing a landscape plan to make them happier in their home environment.

Ellen thrives on creating gardens and landscapes that capture her clients’ wishes – whether it’s recovering the beauty of an overgrown or ailing landscape or developing the possibilities of an empty space transforming it from a detriment to an asset with a little attention. She creates themed gardens to respond to a client’s interest, such as honoring a loved one, having a serene place to sit or meditate, or having an herb garden that provides outdoor interest and fragrance as well as bringing extra delight to cooking. She is a listener who partners with her clients to give them a way of reaching their goals whether they understand the green world or not.

The Weeds in a Workplace Garden

As her own boss, Ellen is thriving in an autonomous work environment where she can set high standards of excellence and have the freedom to create new services and products for clients.  As an owner of a new business she admits the lack of security and endless demands on her time can be worrisome.  But recognizing that she is now responsible for her success and is not held back by being an employee for someone else has proven tremendously liberating.

She encourages other women to think about what they really like to do and not be deterred by the fear of not being able to make a living. Ellen suggests that career changers “…try it on and figure it out. There is a wonderful opportunity for trial and error and you can always change your mind. When you have created your new career the money will come.”

Growing the Business

This budding entrepreneur (pun intended!) admits that watching expenses is always a concern. Her strategy is to keep overhead down and continue to build her clientele with excellent referrals and services that distinguish her from other landscape companies. Ellen learned early on that record keeping was a necessity and utilizes a variety of tools to manage her books, foster client communications, and facilitate marketing and networking.

Since gardening in Pennsylvania where Ellen lives and works is seasonal she keeps busy in the winter months by taking classes and learning new techniques that will enhance her services to clients.  She enrolled in the three year certificate in horticulture program at the Barnes Foundation. “It is always fun to learn more and discover new possibilities in landscaping.” Ellen also speaks to garden clubs and other groups giving presentations and demonstrations. She likes to plan new projects with clients so they can start in the spring and she has launched a series of winter-proof indoor themed gardens that make wonderful presents for all occasions.

Marketing is always an important part of growing the business, no matter what the season. Ellen hired a marketing expert and recently launched a website that has given her a much needed online presence. She uses business cards with her new logo to network and posts lawn signs at job locations to capitalize on curb appeal and drive-by prospective clients who see her work. She offers a free consultation as a way for her and a potential client to get to know one another and discuss the client’s goals.

In 2010 the Wynnewood Business Association launched a recognition program for Women in Excellence and Ellen is the first recipient of its Women’s Excellence in Business Award. She is very grateful for this award and sees it as a sign of growth as well as an incentive to continue to move forward with her company.

Garden Rehabilitator

Ellen has been landscaping since she was a child. She started her first garden with her Mom in Connecticut and carries many of those techniques with her today. Gardening has also been a therapeutic outlet for Ellen who found that immersing herself in it was a new way to create life when her marriage died. Gardening was cathartic and healthy way for her to rebuild and renew her life.

Likewise Ellen enjoys bringing diseased plants back to good health or moving an ailing plant to a better location in the landscape so they may provide renewed pleasure. Almost no specimens are beyond rehabilitation and with Ellen’s expert knowledge and tender loving care, most plants come back to thrive in time.

Growth Potential

2010 marks 4 years for Ellen’s business as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). She has steadily grown her clientele and works with a foreman and a crew who reflect the values of her company.  She has built a collegial team that enjoys working together and loves what they do.

Using her lawyerly skills in problem solving, contracts, and project management, Ellen has built a business she loves. Since she traded in her corporate business suits for jeans, a sun hat and waterproof boots, Ellen enjoys wearing skirts and dresses when she is not at work. But there is nothing better for this lawyer turned landscaper than digging in the earth and creating custom gardens that bring delight to the senses.

Quote:

“Be as you wish to seem.” Aristotle

Ellen’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Take the time to figure out what you really love to do. Test-drive many things and know that you can always change your mind. You are not defined by your current occupation but have a diversity of talents and abilities within you.
• Never give up – what you are meant to do is out there somewhere waiting for you to discover it.
• Rally your support network (friends, family, additional resources) because you will need to lean on them during your transition.
• Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself – it can be very liberating.

Resources:

Custom Gardens, LLC www.customgardensllc.com

Tai Goodwin, the Career Makeover Coach suggests two simple questions to bring you clarity about what to do when there are too many options.

What now?

What next?

Sometimes it’s important to focus on these baby steps instead of the big picture so you can tie your answers to the above questions with actions. Tai suggests you write down your ideas. Always carry a note pad so you can be ready on the fly and don’t make a decision until you’ve gotten clarity about what really matters to you in life and career.

Big picture clarity can be scary so this is a perfect opportunity to have a brainstorming session with the strategist on your personal Board of Directors. Have someone help you outline your passion, purpose, values, and strengths along with the vision you have of the lifestyle you want.

A career coach can certainly help facilitate this type of session but if you are lucky enough to have a strategist in your circle of trust – have at it with them and map out 3 paths to create the life and work you want.

The map can be realized with a vision board, journal, or simple outline, whatever suits your personal style. By creating 3 paths you won’t stress yourself out with just one way of doing things and you won’t be limited to a single choice. You can mix and match strategies but the first step will get you moving in the right direction.

By answering what now and what next you will be able to realistically narrow your options based on what really matters to you and take the all important first steps forward on your journey.