NH Women In Business

Home Away From Home Office

2012-01-24T08:46:00.000-08:00

I always knew I would be more productive if I had my own office space. I did not, however, realize how much I was not focused in my home office. I am like in super-speed mode at my desk, whipping through lists and files. Making calls, answering emails, sending quotes, suddenly looking at the clock and saying, "Wow, I forgot to eat lunch!" For the record, that has NEVER happened to me before.
Now that I am settled a bit in my new space, I will be hanging up some photos and other decorations. I will definitely be hanging up the photo of me on the ropes course in California. My kids will be up there too. I have scheduled time to make a vision board, which will hang right in front of my desk. My husband made and hung shelves for me so I have a place for all my business books. I think he secretly hopes to get the shelves in the dining room back, but whatever.
But for right now, the calm, striped white walls (thanks, Kitt!) have been my home away from home office. And it feels pretty good.

New Year New Fear

2012-01-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

As the second week of January begins, I find myself in a familiar place. Not a place I enjoy being in, but familiar nonetheless. After a full week of goal setting, planning, budgeting, and the like, I now see the enormous to do list that sits in front of me. Slightly overwhelming. Good thing I don't have to get it all done today.

Most people say that when a person doesn't meet their goals it is because the person is afraid of failure. I submit that the opposite is the case. Because it can take us in completely new and uncharted territory, success can be scary. Every day is new and different and unpredictable. As my friend, Tom Haupt (http://www.tomhaupt.com/)of Klemmer & Associates says, "It makes you feel like you are going to throw up." That, Tom says, is when you know you are out of your comfort zone. That is where success sits and waits.

But why should we be scared? Because sticking our necks out means we have to perform. Anyone can talk a good game, but when the rubber hits the road, we need to perform. Mary Welchell of The Christian Working Woman (http://www.christianworkingwoman.org) once said on her radio broadcast, "Everyone can sound impressive, but after about fifteen minutes you better know something." For some, that can be too much and they drop out of the game. For others it is a chance of a lifetime.

Don't believe me? Do you remember what happened to Drew Bledsoe? New England Patriot Quarterback? That's right! Choke! And who was there on the sidelines waiting, just waiting, for his moment? Tom Brady.

That reminds me. Right now there is some young gun sitting out there waiting for me to go home early or take a random day off so he or she can get off the bench and take away what I have worked hard for. Don't even think about it, kid. I do just fine in the throw-up zone, thank you very much. Game on.

Why Do People Do What They Do?

2011-12-27T18:41:00.000-08:00

I am presenting some material tomorrow (Wednesday 12/28) about behavioral styles. This knowledge is helpful in all aspects of life, but interestingly enough, can be used to close the sale.

Understanding someone's behavioral style can give you incredible insight into what motivates them, and therefore, how to give them what they really want, so they want to give you what you want. It is pretty simple really. You can finally understand why your teenager rolls her eyes at you when you come in the room. Or why your toddler won't cooperate during bathtime. As well as why some people at work seem to fly off the handle (probably a Controller). Others quietly plod along at the same job for 40 years. If you are saying, "Wow, I would never do that!" it is because that person is an Analyzer and you are not.

Each person's behaviors demonstrate how that person feels about the way things should be. Since that is different for everyone, based on their experiences, everyone has a different idea of how things should be. And therefore, their behavior is different.

Pretty simple really.

Want to learn more? Contact me to do a workshop in your workplace. Your Sales Director will thank you.

2011-12-15T17:59:00.001-08:00

Testing out my new mobile blogging abilities. Technology is so flippin' cool!

2011-12-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

Good presentation on Slide Share about some basic Social Media strategy. Nice job, guys!

Facebook: Likes to Leads

View more presentations from digitalmarketerpro

2011-12-10T12:05:00.000-08:00

Today I had a panicky moment. I was ready to leave the house to run in the Jingle Bell Run in Concord, NH. The sitter, who lives next door, was late, so I sent my daughter over to see if she was on her way. She told her that she would be right over. I left because my daughter is perfectly cabale of watching our little guy for short periods of time.
I went to Concord and registered and was waiting at the start line when my daughter called. The sitter wasn't coming. My daughter then said, "Don't worry, Mom. I can do it. We will have something for snack and watch a couple movies. We will be fine."
Deep breath. "OK, I told her. But you have your phone (yes), it's charged, (yes), and the doors are locked (yes). Well if you need help, you can go next door to either neighbor's house (yes, mom, I know). OK, well I will call you when I am done."
Well, I really didn't need to panic. My daughter had everything under control and my little guy was a great listener for her. My husband called her every 15-20 minutes to make sure she was OK, which she was. I was forced to trust her in a big way for about 3 hours and she really did great. She sure is a great kid.

The Importance of Sundays for Your Business

2011-12-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes people ask me if I ever take time off. The answer is yes and no. I mean, right now it is Sunday morning and I am typing a blog. Not exactly unplugged. But this morning my whole family sans one is here, we are all in our pajamas, not yet showered, full tummies, just sitting around talking about how much we love hanging out together. My three-year-old this morning says (unsolicited), "Oh, Mom. You're a great Mom." So I taught him to say to his sister, "You're the best sister in the whole wide world!" I tried to say, "What am I going to do when my kids are grown?" but I couldn't because after the first two words I got choked up. My husband chimed in with ,"By then we will have grandkids." Excellent. More pajama time. Is tomorrow Monday morning? Bring it.

Self-Employment has its Benefits

2011-12-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

Today I spent 8 hours on a hard wooden bench in a courtroom waiting for a decision from a judge two counties away. 8am to 4pm. No lunch. Finally at 4pm word came that everything was progressing to the next step and I could go home.

A few years back, had I been in this scenario, I would have been angry, impatient, frustrated, worried, and maybe sick to my stomach. Not for the reasons I was in court, but because it would have required me to take time off work from employment. It would have cost me two days of earned paid time if I had it available, not to mention having to explain to my boss that I needed to take the time off - with no warning. But today, as I sat there, chatting with my attorney, I felt peaceful, happy, comfortable, and confident that everything would turn out fine, and that all my clients and appointments would be understanding of me having to reschedule our meetings. This was the reason I have always wanted to work for myself. Not because of control or money or any of those things. But because I want - no, I deserve - to have the flexibility to take care of the important things in my life without hesitation. Have courage, ladies! Take the risk and go forward with confidence. You deserve your "why".

I must have "arrived" at "the top"

2011-11-29T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today I did something that I have never done before. I hired someone to clean my house. I thought only rich or important people did that. So let me just say that it is the best thing I ever did in my life. My house is clean, the furniture got rearranged(now it "flows"), and my house eminates the smell of Murphy's Oil Soap, but in a good way.

I may do this on a fairly regular basis to keep the dust bunnies from taking over. And it has totally reduced my stress level going into the holidays. If you need someone, let me know I can give you her number. As long as you don't need her next month on the 16th. Then you can have her.

Turkey Out has been declared!

2011-11-26T12:22:00.000-08:00

My good friend, Dagne posted on her FB wall this morning that she has declared Turkey Out (Thanksgiving turkey all gone from the house) as of today. Kind of like Ice Out on the Big Lake. I would like to declare turkey out as well, but also Excuse Out. We went out for Chinese on Wednesday night and my fortune read, "Failure is feedback. And feedback is the breakfast of champions." For real. I thought, wow, Brian Klemmer isn't letting me forget the principles I learned and experienced this year.

So back on the treadmill every day, regardless. A few days off shouldn't have done much damage, right? Keep my focus on my goals and remember the "why". What is YOUR "why"?

Happy Thanksgiving from NHWIB!

2011-11-23T08:33:00.000-08:00

For everyone who has ever been on, listened to, or supported the NH Women In Business Show, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have helped me accomplish a huge dream, which is to help women prove they can do anything they want if they just give themselves a chance. And we are just getting started. Happy Thanksgiving to you all and your families. We are all connected!

My Bridal Dream 08-26-11

2011-09-01T13:39:00.001-07:00

Great show today with My Bridal Dream. They are the Dream Team for ANYONE who is involved in planning a wedding, no matter what the demographics are for the event. www.mybridaldream.com

NH Women In Business 08-19-11

2011-08-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Great show today with MKT Investments. We even had a caller. These guys are what I call Million Dollar Thinkers. They see and plan for long-term and are able to work objectively without emotion. Very professional.
Less nervous today. More excited. Getting response from sponsors and other radio stations.
Goal=I will be on 6 or more stations by December 31, 2011. Look out Rush Limbaugh.

Marketing Plans and Why You Need One

2011-07-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

Marketing Plans are crucial to the success of a business. A common misconception is that they need to be long and complicated. The truth is, marketing plans should change as often as your goals change, which should be every six months. Why six months? Because if you don't achieve some growth goals in six months, consider the goal and reassess your strategy. The point here is that a marketing plan is useless unless it is developed around goals set by the people who work to reach the goals. This includes your employees, so make sure you include them in your goal setting - and your marketing plan. Buy in from them is crucial for success.

Home is where you hang up your phone

2011-06-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever worked for yourself or in sales of some kind where you don't really have an office? It can be a little unsettling. But I have started to become accustomed to working on my kitchen table, using my laptop and iPad, answering emails in my car on my Blackberry, and generally working in a virtual office. The key is keeping everything in one "capture device" as it is now being called. One place where you keep everything, and write everything down when it occurs to you. You take it with you everywhere, even keeping it on your night stand so you can write down all those things that keep you up at night. Just remember "someday" or "later" don't exist as real blocks of time. But when you write one of those "someday" items on a page in your planner, you suddenly have time allotted to getting it done. And you'll sleep better.

2011-06-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Big news! NHWIB will be back on the air beginning in August on the 5th, the noon hour, on WSMN Nashua, 1590 AM. I am very excited to be a part of this station's line up. They are extremely professional and helpful, and I get the feeling that this is only the beginning of something really big!

2011-06-17T12:33:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon on a rainy Friday. I don't usually mind rain. But I am waiting to hear from a potential new home for NHWIB and the rain makes everything go slow

Talk Radio, the Movie

2011-02-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

OK, so I am home sick today and decide to watch a movie, which I never do. I figured I would watch something I have never seen, something older, then I looked at the On Demand under their "freebies" and see Talk Radio.
I mean, I am in radio, so I thought, maybe I can relate to the characters.

If you've never seen the movie, let me just say that it isn't something you watch with your kids. It's about a guy named Barry who went from selling suits to being on the radio in the late night Dallas radio market. He is about to go national. You get to know Barry through watching his interaction with the callers, most of whom are very dangerous people. He receives death threats almost daily. There is a twisted triangle between Barry, his girlfriend/Producer, and his ex-wife, who is Barry's emotional link to a better time in his life. He has a love/hate relationship with his board controller and the station owner. They have all know each other for a very long time and the tension is palpable. They are nothing apart from each other and it eats them up inside.

As I watched, I couldn't help but consider some of the things that were going through Barry's mind. He speaks to the world every night, has free reign on the content of his show, and the only people who call are Jew haters, KKK members, teenagers who call just to hear themselves on radio, and women who "love" Barry because, well, I'm not sure, maybe because he has the kind of voice you can't turn off. In his last show, he chides his listeners for not having anything good to say. I couldn't help wondering if Barry had started to understand himself and begin to like himself after the final show. He faced some of his worst demons in one night and came out having the last word. If you have seen the movie, you know what happens next.

Hopefully I haven't ruined it for you, but have enticed you to see the movie. I can assure you that Barry does not work for WTPL, but I wish I had a chance to interview him for my show.

Loving the Winter?

2011-02-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

Not really. I actually despise winter. I am one of those "inside people" you hear about who take vitamin D3 so I don't end up with seasonal depression. My husband, however, is an "outside person". Which is good for me because once in a while I get outside to do stuff. Like snowmobile, ski, sled, snowshoe. OK, I am in the doorway cheering him on while he does these things, but I do have a coat on so technically I am getting fresh air. What? OK, give me a campfire and a pair of running shoes any day over snow. Memorial Day, here I come!

Tough Week!

2011-01-30T18:47:00.001-08:00

What a crazy week! We had a special lunch for our favorite producer, Jay Dawg, who celebrated his first 10 years in broadcasting. Sales meetings, phone calls, appointments with clients. Evenings consumed by church activities, kid's homework and sports. Another snow storm. Rescheduling. Again. Try fitting exercise in with that! Meals, dentist, investments, dog, chiropractor, hair color. Networking, building relationships with clients and colleagues. Dinner and a movie. Hanging out with friends. I guess it was really a typical week after all. Monday. Bring it on.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

I don't think that January 11th is too late to wish someone a Happy New Year. In fact, I think I get a free pass the entire month of January. It seems everyone I speak to these first days of 2011 is glad to start fresh. I hope that for you it is a chance to lose some baggage from the past so you can begin to look at the opportunities ahead. And if you come to that place in February or March, Happy New Year!

It's not about finding the right person

2010-04-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

Someone once told me, "It's not about finding the right person, it's about being the right person." We were talking about marriage, of course. So upon the start of my second marriage, I made a conscious effort to be the right person. I often ask myself, am I the kind of wife I would want to have? Invariably, the answer is no, which sends me back to the drawing board. But my husband, who is the right person, continues to be the right person and constantly forgives me with the brush of a hand like it's no big deal. You can't control other people, but you can be the kind of ___________ (fill in the blank) you would want to have, whether that is a boss, mom, wife, friend, employee, or neighbor. You can live your dream, with or without the support of others, but it's easier with it. So offer the support others need to help them live their dreams and be the kind of _________ you would want to have.

Red Sox

2010-04-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what it is about the Red Sox. Listening to Jerry Remy or Joe Castiglione brings memories of my dad working out in his garage with the game on. Every game. No matter if they were in last place. Which they were at times. My dad died at the age of 56 in 1993 and never got to see the Red Sox win the World Series. So when they won in 2004 and again in 2007, I had a tough time not getting choked up. My dad cheered for them and always kept the faith. So it's good to be a fan of the Red Sox. It teaches you patience. And humility.

Clients

2010-04-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

Working with a few big clients in the next couple weeks. Looks like NHWIB is moving to the next level.

Interviews for NHWIB

2010-04-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the interview with Jan Sheehan, Physical Therapist, and the first of four guests during Women's Health Month on NHWIB. Jan is a wonderful person and very skilled. She also teaches rug braiding, has a booth at the Deerfield Fair where she sells canned food (yum!) and she owns horses! Just a few of the things we didn't get to hear during the interview.

Interviews for NHWIB

2010-04-02T17:46:00.001-07:00

I had the most excellent day. My friend, who is a personal chef, came over and cooked a surprise birthday meal for my husband. While she prepared the meal, I interviewed her for her business, The Daily Dish (www.dailydishllc.com). After my husband came home, I also asked him some questions and then tonight I recorded my kids with their comments. Very cool. The meal, by the way, was totally awesome!

Marketing myself

2010-02-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

The only way people will sponsor NHWIB is if they get to know me personally (or close to it). So I spend time on FB, my website (the old one), and emails to let people get to know me. I also network like crazy. Someone suggested I interview myself on my show. Not unless I want to bore people to death. Once people get to know me, if they like me, they are more likely to be interested in sponsoring NHWIB. Because they are buying me.

My husband calls it yogurt

2010-02-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

I spent an hour with Karen Kenney from Quest Yoga of Chichester this afternoon. She has agreed to be on the show, so we thought it would be a good idea for me to experience yoga first hand. She suggested we do some Thai Yoga Massage then some group yoga classes.
So today was the Thai. I was excited to have someone work on my muscles since I have been going to physical therapy for muscle tension in my neck and back. Karen did an excellent job finding out about me first, then explaining what she was going to do. Thai Yoga Massage is different, because the instructor moves the student into stretches and positions for relaxation. I will admit it is difficult to not "help" move your arms and legs around. Once we were done, I was able to lie there for a minute and relax before I went home. Karen really took her time to explain the importance of maintaining the benefits of yoga. I am looking forward to attending group classes and having Karen on the show.

Epsom rocks!

2010-02-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

Today we had 26 (26!) people at our Epsom Networking group. I can't get over how excellent that is. We enjoyed a great presentation, introduced 6 new people, and connected with some friends. I love meeting new people and learning about what they do outside of work, because that is who they really are.

Later today I did another interview for NHWIB that will be on 2/13. Allison from Tutor Doctor. She has become a good friend in a short time.

Can't wait to see everyone again tomorrow in Chichester.

Networking works!

2010-02-02T18:32:00.000-08:00

Who says networking doesn't work? I get more calls from interested parties from networking events than I do in 100 cold calls. Not to mention the fabulous people you meet, most of whom become your friends.
Got three calls this week from almost complete strangers who I met either at an event I was at or I was recommended by someone I met at a networking event. You can't put a value on that. Correction. That is priceless!

Website Woes

2010-02-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

Up until 11:30 sending mp3 files so they can be posted in the archive spot. Up at 6:30 with Little Buddy. Sales meeting at 10:30.
Important client meeting tomorrow in the morning. Looking for long-term sponsors for the show takes a long time.

New Website- Sort of

2010-01-31T09:15:00.000-08:00

I have been waiting patiently for my new laptop which I got yesterday but couldn't work on until about 8:30pm since I had to get the little guy to bed and get ready for company today. So when I finally turned it on, I began sending my archived mp3 files of previous shows to the nice young man who is building my website for me.

However, if a person's email can't handle large files, they never reach them. So for over an hour I tried to send shows to him and only one made it. Now I will be sending them in segments. I desperately want to get the site up by the end of the week.

Keep looking for an announcement on FB for the official launch of http://www.nhwomeninbusiness.com/. Thanks for your support!

NHWIB-Getting started

2010-01-30T17:21:00.000-08:00

My name is Joanne Randall and I host a new show on WTPL in Concord called NH Women In Business. The whole idea of hosting my own show came from wishing I had some way to have instant credibility with clients. I figured it would be much easier to get in the door with perspective clients if I said I was the host of a show. It worked, but I never realized what kind of commitment I was making. If I did, I probably would have been scared off. I am glad we don't always know the risks before jumping in. It would stop a lot of us from trying new things.

We have been on air on Saturday mornings at 8am since November 2009. I have met some pretty incredible people, which makes all the effort worth it right there. I would like the show to go a little longer and maybe a little later in the morning. But I am not sure I am ready for that yet. Since I do all the recording, editing, and production, I would need to be ready to commit even more time to the show. And I am still selling air time to regular clients at the same time.

By the way, I work part-time. The good news is that I set my own schedule and that is just awesome. But it is tough to get everything done.

Until next time,

Joanne