Professionality

Understand your brand. Tell your stories. Grow your business.

[professionality]

So, I’ve changed! If you’re interested in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, rat terriers, small businesses, branding, social media and digital marketing content, and a bit of joy, follow me where I’m active these days: Insta, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Hey! I'm focused on helping small businesses to succeed these days, less on personal brand and image. You know how it goes. If you're interested on brand content for business success, including digital marketing stuff, follow me on my blog: http://professionalityconsulting.com/ Or just follow me on Facebook and Instagram - Professionality. Facebook is more business-y; Insta is more of my life in the Berkshires.

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One in 68 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These children grow to be adults who want to be part of their communities - to work, to contribute their gifts. Today is World Autism Awareness Day: share this post; read up on Autism; wear blue; donate; volunteer. I'm joyously volunteering to get the word out about Autism, and Extra Special Teas - a tea house in Great Barrington, MA that employs adults with ASD. Today is Extra Special Teas' grand opening. If you live in the Berkshires, join us at 2 Elm Street, Great Barrington, MA anytime between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. http://www.extraspecialteas.org/

[luxe-pauvre]

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This Stella McCartney jumpsuit looks like a Snuggy for work. Perhaps if your personal brand was elegant yet comfortable yet sleepy? What the heck: Put a jacket on it. It'll could work. For someone...

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Professional dress & perception

We humans defer to individuals who we perceive as dominant and powerful. The results of a 2014 study by Michael Kraus, a Yale School of Management professor, indicate that when you dress for success you are seen as more powerful -- and you feel more powerful.

In the study, the men in suits averaged about 10 percent more profit in mock real-estate negotiations than men who were dressed very casually (sweats and flip-flops, to be precise). These guys compromised less because they felt strong suited up. (This particular study included men and not women. I’m assuming the results would be similar if women participated but I could be very wrong.) It was noted that if a suit was worn every day, the powerful feeling would diminish.

Should we all wear suits? Absolutely not. But it is worth considering.

Whether you work in an old-school business formal workplace, and only about 10% of us do (here’s a Gallup poll on workplace dress styles back in 2007), or a very casual-dress workplace, if you can project your strengths confidently and consistently, you will be seen as more authoritative and credible. Ultimately, you should consider your brand: how do you see yourself and how do you want others to see you? If you want to be seen as a leader, determined, powerful, donning a suit at certain times might work for you.

What we wear is often seen as superficial yet these pieces of cloth that we put on our bodies convey so much about how we see ourselves and about how we want others to see us.

What do you think? Do you believe it doesn’t matter how you dress at work? 

[professionality]

“Settling is never a path to happiness.” Maggie Mistal

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Instagram dashboard change

Why? Why do the social media giants keep messing with our dashboards? The change from posts appearing in chronological order to curated order happened first with Facebook, then Twitter in February, now Instagram (owned by Facebook). 

As a branding professional (I do personal and small business branding), I spend more than my fair share of time on social media sites. And I completely understand corporate reasons for curating user feeds: 1) To zone in on consumer interests to make sites more marketable for corporations; 2) To make the experience better for the users. My gut tells me that reason one greatly outweighs reason two (tell me if you think I’m wrong). 

Hey, I’m a big girl. Social media sites are, in theory, money-making corporations who have their own missions and pressures. I understand why they are making this change to curated over reverse chronological. I just prefer to have the power to see what I want to see and curate my dashboard feed myself. 

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Do you have a work bestie?

I do believe that 89% of my best friends have come from places I have worked (I haven’t done an actual statistical analysis...). 

I worked as a temp at a desk-top publishing business in the very early ‘90s for a hot minute -- one of my very best friends is from that experience. I worked in development and communications for 13 years at an amazing Visiting Nurse Association -- several of my great friends are from there including my friend from the temp job who I managed to bring in to cover my job during a maternity leave (she never left! Hi Susan!). I worked at The Emily Post Institute -- add another best friend.

According to a Ross School of Business study, only about 30% of Americans had a work bestie in 2004 compared to 50% in 1985. I can only assume that the statistic has dwindled in the past 10 years. And I don’t even know if these office friends were personal life friends.

I’m curious: Do you have co-workers who have become life-long friends? Have you experienced a down-side to the work/personal life crossover? Are women more likely to embark on the work/personal friendship path? 

[smartgirlsattheparty]

Remember, Smarties: chocolate chip cookies, post-it notes, and potato chips were all invented by accident. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! ⚡️

(via @theboredkids)

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Truth.

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This is a pic of my first role model. The woman who had the greatest impact on my life. A woman who could wear the hell out of a pair of trousers. My mom, of course.

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Inspired by Cate

Did you watch the Academy Awards last night? Just watched Chris Rock’s opening monologue? Or maybe followed the Red Carpet action? I watch snippets, glean the high points, and oggle the fashion, of course. Honestly, everyone looked beautiful, handsome, [INSERT YOUR OWN POSITIVE ADJECTIVE HERE!]. My favorite dresses were worn by Rooney Mara, Naomi Watts, and Cate Blanchett. I also adored the overall vibe of Mindy Kaling, Lady Gaga, and Chrissy Teigen.

This set is inspired by ever-elegant Cate Blanchett. The work-appropriate looks are very loosely based on her mint floral-applique Armani Prive gown. Very. Loosely. Based.

[smartgirlsattheparty]

“You are never going to be like everyone else and it’s going to be the greatest realization you will ever have. ”

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Truth.

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I'm in California. My big sis and I are going to head off to Sacramento to see family and have some fun in Old Town. But of course, I have to start my day with a little poking around on the Internet. I just read this solid article by Michael Brenner. He writes about what good marketing is: a conversation. Banners and pop up ads aren't good marketing. So then, branding is telling your stories consistently and confidently. It's just part of that conversation. Agreed, Mr. Brenner. Agreed. What do you think? And let me know if you have any Sacramento recommendations.

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What I wore from Hartford to Denver to San Jose

I’m on a vacation: visiting my dear family and friends in San Jose, Gilroy, Sacramento, and Long Beach (Not a work trip but I am working...my way across the state!). Even if I’m not in powerhouse work mode, I like to look put together -- like a big, grown-up girl.

I love blue and black together, so I paired a long blue tunic with a pair of ponte pants, and a moto jacket. Accessories were a long necklace, blue pointy-toed flats, silver earrings, a long scarf/wrap, and all the necessary electronic accoutrements.