In 2010, women comprised 47% of the U.S. Labor Force.

Today, it is said that figure has tipped over the 50% mark.

Even with so many women at work, it appears that we have yet to obtain the positions of authority in our work or business environments. According to Selena Rezvani, women’s leadership author of Pushback: How Smart Women Ask For and Stand Up For What They Want:

Despite some of our gains, women continue to make up a meager portion of senior leaders in government, business, and even those fields that are female dominated. Our low presence in top decision-making roles diminishes our contributions, gives us little say in corporate and societal directions, and reduces us to mere observers.

Hmmm…..Ladies.

I say, it is time for change. It is time for us to do what COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg advises--Go Get It!

The only way for us to go get it is to ask for it. In other words, we must first change our mindset about what we deserve and then hone our negotiating and self-advocacy skills.

To get a better understanding of the negotiating process, I called upon women’s leadership author, speaker, and consultant, Selena Rezvani.

Who is Selena Rezvani?

Selena Rezvani’s goal is to propel more women into the top echelons of businesses — an objective she achieves through her writing, consulting, and speaking engagements. She is the co-owner of Women’s Roadmap, a consulting firm that elevates women into leadership through assessment, the design of gender-inclusive policies, and coaching. Outside of her consulting and coaching work, Selena promotes her message through training programs, teaching some of the brightest minds in business at eBay, Harvard, Accenture, Princeton, Duke, Johnson & Johnson, The Clinton Foundation, and many others. 

She has been quoted, interviewed, and profiled by The Today Show, CareerBuilder, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, ABC, and NBC. She is a regular commentator on NPR’s syndicated 51 Percent: The Women’s Perspective, blogs for Forbes.com and writes an award-winning column on women and leadership for The Washington Post. She is the author of the acclaimed career guidebooks PUSHBACK: How Smart Women Ask–and Stand Up–for What They Want (Jossey-Bass, 2012) and The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won’t Learn in Business School (Praeger, 2009).

Selena received her bachelor of science and master of social work degrees from New York University, and has an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated first in her class. She lives near Philadelphia. For more information, visit: www.NextGenWomen.com or www.WomensRoadmap.com.

Listen to Our Discussion Now to Learn the Four-Step Model of Negotiation & The  Importance of Self-Advocacy by Women in the 21st Century Workforce

Questions I Asked Selena

1. Selena, one strategy that authors are given to help with crafting their message is to visualize that one person they are writing to. Describe for us the ideal reader you were thinking of when you wrote Pushback.

2. Selena, to some, the term Pushback may sound a little combative and therefore have a negative connotation. Give us your definition of pushback and share a few examples of some “pushback scenarios.”

3. I love the fact that you did your own research for this book by interviewing what you call “a new set of 20 women leaders in the top echelons of their fields.” As you analyzed your data, what was the most shocking thing that you learned from this experience?

4. Selena, it is apparent that women struggle with pushing back, even today when there are more of us who are educated, more of us in the work force, and more of us as even head of our households. What would you say are the top 3 reasons that women shy away from pushing back?

5. Selena, for older or more seasoned women who say, I am sorry, I am just not going to risk negotiating or advocating for myself given today’s climate, what would you say are the consequences of such a decision?

6. Selena, you say that “One of the best investments you’ll make in your career is spending time learning a reliable and effective system for negotiation. As you build your skills and learn the art of negotiating, you’ll begin to see it not just a one-time or occasional (and somehow mysterious) transaction but an everyday necessity.” So, in the book, you give us a four-step model of negotiation. Please take your time and breakdown those four steps for us.

7. You provide an assessment in the book that can help women pinpoint the areas of strength and identify their weaker areas. Give us an example of how a woman would use this information to become better at asking for and standing up for what she wants.

8. Selena, as I was reading your book, I immediately thought about Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook and how she states that women hold themselves back by lowering our expectations of what we can achieve. And, then, as I read on, lo and behold, you actually talk about the speech she gave in which she urged women to “go get it” rather than waiting for permission. Why is it so important for young women who are just entering the workplace to possess the pushback kind of mindset?

9. Selena, you have registered for my English 101 class, and your first assignment is to write a persuasive essay. This is your writing prompt: This is a great time to elect a qualified woman for the presidency of the United States because…..

Please share your thoughts about the interview below and if you haven’t already, don’t forget to subscribe to Books That Tranform!

• Click here to Subscribe via Blog Talk Radio.
• Click here to Subscribe via iTunes.
• Click here to Subscribe via RSS.
• Next show: How to Dominate Your Niche with Stephanie Chandler, Tuesday, March 12th at 12:00 noon (EST).

Solo Small Business Entrepreneurs, you are in for a treat!

Jeanna Pool, author of Amazon’s #1 Bestseller, Marketing for Solos was on Books That Transform, today. What a blessing she was! She shared so many tips with us on how to become effective marketers and thereby attract more clients to our businesses. The time just went by entirely too fast.

In case you are not familiar with Jeanna, here is her bio:

Jeanna Pool is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestselling Book, Marketing for Solos^® which has been praised by 11 of the world’s top marketing experts including: Jay Conrad Levinson, C.J. Hayden, John Jantsch, Dan Kennedy, Bob Bly, Ali Brown, Yanik Silver and others.

Jeanna has been called “One of the world’s foremost experts on marketing a one-person small business successfully.”Jeanna is a rare breed, in that she’s an expert in both marketing that actually works and design that actually sells—two disciplines and competencies that very, very few can bring together successfully.

Today, Jeanna owns and operates Marketing for Solos^® which is her own, highly successful, award-winning, marketing and design firm in Denver Colorado.

She works exclusively with solo small business owners all across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and around the world. All of Jeanna’s clients have one thing in common—they are really good at what they do, but sometimes really struggle to market their services successfully as a solo.

Jeanna is in the trenches day in and day out, putting into action marketing strategies that she preaches about and teaches others to use. With Jeanna there’s never any fluff or theory to what she teaches about marketing. Instead, she focuses only on marketing that actually works in the real world.

Her love and passion is helping other solo small business owners be as outrageously successful as they possibly can be. For more information about how Jeanna can help your solo small business attract more clients on a consistent basis, call 303-380-9100 or visit www.MarketingForSolos.com

 The Interview 

As usual, I had a ball and write pages of notes during the interview. The questions I asked Jeanna and the player (so that you can listen right now) are included below. Enjoy!!!

1.      Jeanna, since you have been in business, you have helped thousands of solo small business owners take their businesses to the next level of growth, profitability, and success. Tell us about a time when you were able to identify serious problems in a client’s branding and marketing efforts and then provide solutions that tremendously increased sales.

 

2.      Jeanna, the tagline for this show is changing mindsets, transforming lives. Coincidentally, chapter 3 is called Change Your Thinking. Please breakdown for us the four areas in which our thinking about marketing needs to change.

 

 

3.      One of the hardest things for solopreneurs is choosing a niche. Why is it so important to focus on a specific target audience? And, how do you know that you are targeting qualified clients?

 

4.      Solopreneurs serve others through their products and services. Trying to price the information products, coaching, consulting, speaking, & even performing can be challenging. Jeanna, what method or general rule should solopreneurs use to set pricing?

 

5.      Jeanna, some solopreneurs choose the DIY (Do It Yourself) avenue when it comes to creating their website and marketing materials or they choose the cheapest designer they can find. In chapter 9, you say, “Unless you’re an expert in design with a degree and years of experience, stick to working at the business you know, and leave the design work to the designers.” You go on to say, “If your materials project a professional, consistent image, then that transaction pays you in good will, trust and future business. If the image is amateurish or inconsistent, then you lose trust, confidence, and money. “

Jeanna, what are three tips you can give us on hiring the right graphic designer?

6.      Jeanna, one of the problems for the solopreneur is actually making marketing manageable and doable with our busy schedules. How can we go from this day forward prioritizing everything we must get done?

 

7.      Jeanna, since the show is entitled How to Successfully Market Today’s Solo Small Business, I’d like to use real solopreneurs who could benefit from your expertise. They are Alaina Odessa of Alaina Odessa Expressions, who is the author of the book Slow Running Honey and Jerry Head of Jerry Head Photography who has been providing superior photography services for the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, & Chapel Hill, NC) and beyond for over 20 years.

Client #1

Our first solopreneur is Alaina Odessa of Alaina Odessa Expressions and if you are at a computer and want to follow along with us go to www.alainaodessa.com. Jeanna is going to give Alaina advice on how to make her website what she calls a comprehensive workhorse website.

Good Afternoon, Alaina. Thank you so much for joining us and allowing Jeanna to advise you on the air. Jeanna, take it away.

Client #2

Wow, Jeanna, I am excited for Alaina. You really did a fantastic job of remodeling her site, if you will. Now, let’s help out my friend Jerry Head of Jerry Head Photography. Jerry’s website is www.jerryheadphotos.com. But, this time, we are going to focus on choosing the right marketing tools and activities that will successfully relaunch his business. So, Jeanna, what do you advise for Jerry?

Jenna, you have a special offer for the BTT listeners, today? I am so thrilled about it because you are the first author to do this. Please share it with them now.

Listen to The Show Now

Jeanna’s Amazing Special Offer (FREE Training on Niche Marketing)

For people who listened to the  show, if they buy my book from Amazon by December 31st and email me their Amazon receipt (proving the purchase), I will send them a special 1 hour audio program called Niche Marketing for Solos. The program normally sells for $97 but I will email the digital recording of the program to EVERYONE who purchases the book (paperback or Kindle) on Amazon by December 31st. The email address to send the receipt is: info@marketingforsolos.com and put “Amazon” in the subject line.

I hope you take her up on her offer. The book itself is an invaluable resource. You will love it!!!

People.

As a business owner, sometimes you may honestly feel like you can’t live with them. You can’t live without them.

If you are an entrepreneur, you believe that you have been called to provide a product or service that will enhance the lives of a particular group of people. In order for you to fulfill your purpose, you have to reach people.

In order to provide an effective service, you have to understand people–know their needs,know their concerns, and know their desires.

In order to provide great content online or offline (via your blog posts, videos, articles, podcasts, webinars, tele-seminars, workshops, bootcamps, coaching clubs, masterminds, etc.), there is no doubt about it….you must understand people.

Ironically, you may find that you really do not understand the people that you need to understand the most–your target market. As a result, you struggle to engage in the kind of marketing that will attract your ideal clients to you, resulting in a lack of revenue.

Most importantly, you may find that you do not understand yourself. You don’t fully know how to express who you are and what you stand for. You are challenged when it comes to knowing how to communicate the benefits of working with you.

You are tired of being in this predicament and you want to end this year and begin the next in a brand new state of mind.

What If?

What if I knew someone who could help you build better relationships with your customers, clients, business partners, and even family and friends?

What if I introduced you to her, personally?

What if you walked away with a better sense of self and others in just 45 minutes?

Wouldn’t that be great?

Spending Time with Certified Behavior Analyst and Professional Coach Bev Flaxington

Tomorrow on Books That Transform at 12:00 noon (EST), we will be graced with the amazing teacher of human behavior, Beverly Flaxington. Beverly is the author of Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets to Human Behavior.

I am so excited about our discussion as my mindset has truly been affected by the book in an extremely, positive way and I know that you will be affected in the same manner.

In case you have not heard of Bev Flaxington and her incredible work on human behavior, I have shared the short version of her bio below:

Beverly D. Flaxington

Beverly is a popular national speaker, a business building expert, an accomplished business consultant, an executive coach, a trainer, a facilitator, a behavioral expert, a college professor and a two-time bestselling and Gold-award winning author. As an entrepreneur, she has run her own consulting firm for 17 years, The Collaborative.

Her bestselling book, Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets to Human Behavior, won a gold award from Readers Favorite for best new book on relationships. She authored Make the Shift: The Proven Five Step Method to Success for Corporate Teams and Make Your Shift: The Five Most Powerful Moves You Can Make to Get Where YOU Want to Go which became a bestseller on the day of release. Her latest book, 30 Days to Understanding Other People: A Daily Approach to Improving Your Relationships was released in summer of 2012.

 

Beverly holds both a BSBA and an MBA from Suffolk University and is currently a Lecturer there teaching Leadership and Social Responsibility, a class created around her S.H.I.F.T. Model ™.   

Beverly is a Certified Hypnotherapist and Hypnosis Trainer, a Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA) and Certified Professional Values Analyst (CPVA). She uses the DISC and PIAV tools frequently in her work with individuals and organizations.

 

Bev is often interviewed and has appeared in: 

USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Readers Digest, Selling Power Magazine, SheKnows.com with Michele Borboa; Opposing Views.com with Mike McNulty and FoxNews.com. She has been interviewed on The Balancing Act, NECN and several cable news channels.

Sneak Peek of the Five Secrets

Here are the five secrets that Beverly will “enlighten” us on:

1.  Secret #1: It’s All About Me

2. Secret #2: Our Behaviorial Styles Come Between Us

3. Secret #3: Your Values Speak Louder Than You Do

4. Secret #4: Don’t Assume I Know What You Mean

5. Secret #5: I’m Okay. You Are Definitely NOT Okay

Join the Show on November 13, 2012 at 12:00 noon (EST)

The show is available 24/7 on Blog Talk Radio and iTunes and the player here on kelliegardner.com. Listen at your convenience. I am sure you will be blessed by what you hear.

Networking.

When you hear that term what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Dressing your best.

Meeting new people.

And perhaps, walking away with a slew of business cards.

You have probably done this time and time again only to find that your business has not grown from your concerted efforts. Frustrated but determined to become a master networker, you long for someone to teach you “how” to make it work.

Your prayers have finally been answered.

Today, Allison Graham demystified the networking process for us on Books That Transform. She brought to life several of the principles and effective strategies that she shares in her highly acclaimed book, From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding and Profitable Networking Made Easy.

Here are some of the questions that I asked her:

1.      Allison, you have an incredible, inspirational story of how you went from working as a receptionist by day and bartender by night to winning a political nomination to run for public office and becoming the owner of a successful business. Give us a glimpse into the entire evolution of Allison Graham from then until now.

2.      Allison, the title of your book is From Business Cards to Business Relationships—Personal Branding & Profitable Networking Made Easy. Can you give us a real-life, textbook example of an entrepreneur who has branded himself or herself well and built a profitable network?

3.      What would you say is the most deadly assumption that entrepreneurs make about networking?

4.      Allison, we normally think of a pillar as a fundamental precept or general rule of action. Your book is broken into the Four Pillars of Profitable Networking. What are the four pillars and how do they build on each other throughout the networking process?

5.      Allison, after I read this book, you made me want to spend a VIP day with you, just to absorb your expertise, one-on-one. Maybe we could improvise on that idea a bit today. I would like to use a fictitious entrepreneur as the example as you take us on the personal branding and profitable networking journey. Is that okay?

Alright, well Lois Lane is a certified public accountant who just celebrated the one-year anniversary of her company, Lane Financial Services Group. She really wants her business to be the premier credit and debt counseling agency in the nation. 

•  She has been trying to get her friends and family to become clients, but they seem resistant. How would you advise her in this area?

• What is the most effective way for Lois to generate new business leads and meet the right people?

• How does she develop what you call “networking confidence”?

• What warnings would you issue to her when it comes to online networking and its role in her business?

 

6.    Allison, no matter what we do in our businesses, we know how important it is to be led by a plan.  What is a business networking plan and how do we keep it active?

 

 7.  Allison, you have just put so much meat on our entrepreneurial bones. If someone listening is saying, “I have to have more teaching, guiding, or consulting from Allison”, what should they do?

Listen to the Show Now! 

To learn how to become a more effective networker and thereby increase your revenue and develop meaningful relationships….press PLAY.