The Career Connection: The Lost Art of Business Etiquette

By Josephine Nicholas ~

In these unprecedented economic times and rapidly expanding global economy, executives on all levels need to distinguish themselves from the competition.  Gone are the days of common courtesy in a business forum, and ushered in are the days of an in your face type of carelessness about behavior, style, and interaction.

The courtesy and class that used to be prevalent has dwindled; it is true – business etiquette is a lost art and not much can make up for a lack of tact, professionalism, and consideration. Balance needs to be implemented in a business world that is so caught up in itself.

Networking isn’t about the food, how many cards you pass out, or even how many people you meet. It’s about you going up to the woman in the corner who is standing like the wallflower at prom, and introducing her to the right people in the room.  Conducting a seminar on a social media dressed as if you didn’t care about your appearance and telling obnoxious jokes isn’t going to gain you new friends in the ‘cool circle’ – conducting that seminar looking like you respect yourself and your audience, nailing the subject matter on the head, and paying close attention to the questions from the audience; these are the things that earn you a seat at the table. According to research, 85 percent of your job success is connected to your people skills.

Engaging in the conversation, focusing on the other person, not interrupting and thinking before you speak are the proper elements involved in a professional business conversation. Proper training on how to best conduct yourself in business settings can increase your bottom line and position in the market. Implement the following four things and watch business associates, clients, and others flock to you like bees to honey:

• Make an Entrance and Work the Room

“Who are the ones in a room we are most drawn to speak with? Qualities others want to be around are humility, confidence and authority; be that person during this holiday season,” says Josephine. “When you make your entrance, it is best to find and go directly to the host and thank them for hosting. Make eye contact, and smile, as you walk through the room, so you do not look lost; and, remember, starting with gratitude is always effective.”

• Introduce Yourself and Others with Ease

“Doing a little research prior to any event you attend is a great way to make sure you are well-informed on the crowd. This knowledge equips you with the ability to introduce yourself to the right people in the room with ease, and have a little something about them to discuss. Everyone likes to talk about their latest accomplishment, award, or effort,” says Josephine. “Never fail to introduce one person who may need an introduction to another in the room – even if this introduction provides zero value to you. You will then be known as the classy person who is looking out for others, making them feel at ease.”

• Implement Effective Meal Tactics and Improve Your Mingling Proficiency

“One of the largest holiday faux paux we see is to have both your hands full when at a party – make sure you always have one hand free to give a proper greeting,” says Josephine.  “Additionally, brief yourself on current events and make sure you are skilled with small talk. Be an interesting person to speak with and others – especially your host – will be grateful. Small talk breaks the ice, establishing an immediate connection that you can’t otherwise gain.”

• Effective Business Meal Tactics

“Have you ever faced confusion over which piece of silverware to use during different parts of the meal?  Make sure you learn the best way to dine with style and grace so that others walk away feeling as if they were dining with royalty,” says Josephine. “Another hint: always place your napkin on your lap, folded in the middle, with the open side facing the table. Wipe your mouth with the inside of that napkin, not the outside – which only creates a messy napkin. Follow your host with regard to the speed of eating and completing the meal.”

Always keep in mind that when you have proper etiquette and protocol intelligence – the ability to think, learn, and apply etiquette and protocol skills, especially when this ability is highly developed – you will make a better impression, feel better about yourself, and close more deals.

About the Author

Josephine Nicholas is a professional speaker, writer, and entrepreneur.  Her work ranges from business etiquette to inspiration and motivation.  Josephine runs her own PR Agency, Insert Catchy Headlines, and specializes in obtaining local and national media exposure for her clients.  From 2005-2011, she was the Executive Vice President and Press Liaison for CMPS Institute, the first and most prestigious mortgage planning certification program in the industry. Josephine skillfully brings her practical life experiences from her world travels into her class rooms.  Her contagious laughter, dynamic personality and energetic presentation style make for an interactive, relevant, and enjoyable experience. You can contact Josephine at josephine@icheadlines.com about speaking at an event or writing an article about the topics in this article, and many more.

Photo credit: Ambro

The Career Connection: Out of Work and Stressed Out

By Erik Fisher, PhD, AKA Dr. E… ~

For millions of Americans, being out of work one more day is an all too familiar situation. The jobs that people once had have been eliminated, bills are due, part-time jobs aren’t paying well, families need to eat, and unemployment is running out. For those who were the bread-winners, guilt, failure, hopelessness and stress can feel overwhelming. So how do you take care of yourself if you find yourself in this predicament?
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Don’t Let Your Career Define You
Too many times we allow our job or lack thereof define our worth and value. When we are out of work, we question who we are because we have placed our value in a dollar sign. When you feel this way, look around and see the other areas in your life where you add value – your kids, your spouse, your family… See how you are important to people around you in more than just your job and what they love about you. If you don’t see those things, then see if there are ways that you can add meaning to the lives of others. Furthermore, if you are in a relationship where you feel that people are putting a price on your worth, look at the relationship, get some help with it if you can, and if it isn’t working, it may be time to re-evaluate.
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It is easy to get into a place of feeling sorry for ourselves when we feel down and out. Sometimes our thought patterns can keep us stuck in this. If you are stuck in these thought patterns, check your thoughts and redirect them to more positive thoughts.
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Just Keep Swimming…
Do something positive every day to keep your mind and brain working. People out of work sometimes have a hard time getting out of bed, and that look at the Help-wanted section can be a dreadful reminder of your situation. Read, learn, do something to help look for work or advance your situation. Is it time to go back to school to get educated in something new? What hobbies do you have that you can engage in? If money is an issue, can you find a free hobby? Volunteer your time if you can. Giving to others can feel empowering and you never know whom you will meet or what you will learn along the way. Worry and stress can become quicksand for many, so find a way to keep active.
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Exercise Every Day
Exercise releases endorphins. These can help you feel better. This does not just mean to piddle around the weight room and do a few curls. This means do some work. You need to get your heart pumping. Running, weightlifting, aerobics, Pilates… whatever you may enjoy that can get you and/or keep you in shape – this is critical to your physical and emotional health. Being in shape can also help in the interview process, as it can contribute to your sense of confidence, and appearance often matters in job interviews.
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Sometimes We All Need a Hand
Sometimes people feel too “proud” to ask for help. Whether it is needing emotional support, part-time help, therapy… we live in a world of other people. Many people feel happy to help. Never think that you have to do everything on your own.
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I put the quotes around “proud,” because that is what people call it. I call it arrogance. Pride is when we feel good about who we are. No matter what is going on around us, we can still feel proud of our efforts and who we are. Arrogance is a shield of false pride. It hides shame, guilt, inadequacy… When people can’t ask for help when they need it, it is often because they are hiding these emotions. Arrogance can bring down the people around you as well. You and your family can suffer.
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Remember that you are not alone. So many people are going through the same situation. I believe that there is always something to learn in every situation and that life happens for us not to us. If there is something more you can do, then take a hard look at yourself and do it. If you are doing your best, then feel proud of your efforts and keep going. Appreciate those around you and let that love in. It’s the most important ingredient.
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About the author
Erik Fisher, PhD, aka Dr. E…, is a licensed psychologist and author of two books whose work has been featured NBC, CBS, FOX and CNN. Visit him at www.DrEPresents.com.

The Career Connection: Working With the Office Drama Diva

By Kaley Klemp and Jim Warner ~

We’ve all seen her. The world revolves around her. She’s never wrong. Mistakes are personal affronts. And if you invade her space, you’ll get to see a Hollywood-worthy melodrama.

Regardless of your skills or efforts, this diva picks relentlessly at your outputs. While it was entertaining in “The Devil Wears Prada,” it’s energy-draining to experience her in your work environment. While you try your best, it seems you can never meet her expectations—and you pay the consequences!

What to do? By following these five guidelines, you have a much better chance for a positive working relationship with a Drama Diva—and perhaps saving the theatrics for the movies.

1. Develop Rapport: Overtly confronting a Drama Diva is risky. Often, she’ll react disproportionately to any attempts at constructive criticism. Instead, build a relationship with her before initiating a difficult conversation. Study her behaviors, attitudes, and willingness to receive feedback. Invest the time up front to be able to give input later.

Specific Tip: Demonstrate your support and trustworthiness, especially during challenging times. Drama Divas are known for staying calmer with allies and rewarding loyalty.

2. Clarify Expectations: As a poor delegators, a Drama Diva will often give vague or incomplete instructions. She assumes you’ll know what to do and then reprimand you when your deliverable differs from her expectation. Consequently, you must clearly define goals and time frames up front. She may become irritated at your persistence or “ignorance.” Nevertheless, insist on explicit agreements. Better to risk her frustration early in the game than to miss deadlines or fail to meet her expectations.

Specific Tip: Establish crystal clear agreements about deliverables and time frames.

3. Deliver Results: A Drama Diva’s most explosive displays often revolve around missed deadlines or something that has her look bad. She expects you to perform well so that she’ll stay in a positive light. Focus on delivering quality work on time and, if appropriate, share the kudos.

Specific Tip: Make her look good, so she earns external recognition. Whenever appropriate, let her have the limelight.

4. Appreciate their Value: Compliment the Drama Diva for what she does well, whether efficiency, creativity, or bold action. Sinceshe will likely be sensitive to false praise or fawning, keep the appreciation short and specific. Deliver it with sincerity and in a matter-of-fact way.

Specific Tip: Praise the Diva, especially for things that work well for you, for instancesharing responsibilityor for displaying trust toward you or others.

Suppose none of this works …

5. Stay below her radar: If you work for a Drama Diva who resists coaching or leadership development, understand that the probability of authentic interactions is low, and that your best coping strategy is to stay below her radar screen. If you’re willing to take the risk, you might go over her head to seek reassignment or upper-level backing for your role. This is usually a high-stakes move, so be prepared for the Diva to react with swift, angry retaliation, which may mean the situation worsens for you.

Specific Tip: If she micromanages you or overrides your best ideas, put on a smile and let her have the last word. Then find a place where you can thrive and work to get out of the Diva’s way and into another environment.

The Drama Diva is a specific type of office Controller. By following these guidelines and tips you can position yourself as a responsible team member and colleague, whom she can trust to understand her goals, ask good questions, and deliver results.  You can be allies, rather than a victim of the “Diva Show.”

Kaley Klemp and Jim Warner are the authors of The Drama-Free Office: A Guide to Healthy Collaboration with Your Team, Coworkers, and Boss. The book contains additional tips on how to manage Controllers – whether your colleagues or your boss – as well as insights on the three other drama types most commonly found in offices. To take a free online drama diagnostic (an excellent tool for narrowing the type of drama in another person), go to www.dramafreeoffice.com. You can get a free sample of the book on Facebook, www.facebook.com/kaleyklemp, follow Jim and Kaley on twitter, www.twitter.com/kaleyklemp, and watch their videos and interviews on YouTube, www.youtube.com/kaleyklemp.

The Career Connection: Beachball Football ~ How the Rules of the Game Are Applied in the Boardroom

By Susan T. Spencer ~

Now that it won’t be long before the NFL football season is upon us, starting to learn the basics of football on the beach might just be the push you need to get into the game. Why learn football?

Football is the most watched professional sport globally. More than 111 million TV viewers in the US watched the Super Bowl in February this year breaking a 27 year record held by the last episode of Mash. More than twice as many viewers watch weekly telecasts of professional football games than any weekly prime time show.

Football is an American phenomenon and it’s time you got on the bandwagon with the 20% of other females who have already figured out the career benefits of being able to “talk football.” Once you can talk football you can start a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and at anytime. If you are single it is a great door opener for meeting men who are hooked on football.

Using a beach ball to play football is quite a challenge but will help you understand the basics of what professional quarterbacks do on the field—quarterbacks handle the ball more than any other player during a game. So here you are—the quarterback on the beach.

As the quarterback you can run with the ball, pass the ball to someone else or hand the ball to another player on your team to run with it. For the beach, I suggest you pass the ball to a teammate more than half the time you have the ball. Quarterbacks in the NFL pass the ball 56% of the time.

In beach ball football you need at least 3 players on each team. You are the quarterback and both the other players on your side can catch your pass or you can hand one of them the ball to run with it. Call one the runner and the other the receiver but both of these teammates can catch or run with the ball. On the opposite side are 3 defensive players. They are facing all 3 of you, (quarterback, runner, and receiver) and are trying to knock down the one with the ball and even take it from them.

You score when you or a team member carries the ball into the water. So set up your game with the one who has the ball to start facing the water. Your team gets 4 tries to carry the ball and reach  the water, if you fail to reach the water or you lose the ball before you get to score the ball goes to the other team and you and your teammates switch places and now you are the defense trying to prevent the other team from scoring by reaching the water  when they have the ball.

Learning football is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss …. especially on the beach. Once you start there will be lots of men who will want to “teach” you the game. So take advantage of the rest of the summer to get into football … it will make your life richer, your loved ones will be really impressed, and you will be well on your way to adding a new and exciting dimension to your life by making every Sunday—football Sunday!

In fact, below is a list of terms that can be used in beach ball football and even in life. This glossary of football terms can be used by Beach Ball Football “players” to impress others on the beach and even in the boardroom:

Offense: The team that has the beach ball and is trying to score
Defense: The team that is trying to stop the offense from scoring
Interception: When the beach ball is caught by a player on the defense
Turn Over: Losing the beach ball in any way to a player on the defense results in turning the beach ball over to that team
Sack: When the player holding the beach ball gets thrown to the sand by a player on the opposing team
Shake and Bake: A player with quick and elusive moves on the sand while running with the beach ball
Huddle: When the quarterback(who is the play caller for the offense) gets her other players together in a tight circle to tell her teammates what her next move will be
Touchdown: When an offensive player reaches the water with the beach ball
Roughing the passer: When someone on the opposing team throws sand in the passer’s face
Lockout: Hosts of beach ball football game escort the opposing team to their cars and refuse to allow them to play the game
Free Agent: Beach ball player that is not under contract to the hosts and can play for either team

Susan T Spencer is an entrepreneur, award-winning author of BriefcaseEssentials, lawyer, and former minority owner, GM and VP of the Philadelphia Eagles Football Franchise.  Spencer has spent the last 25 years owning and running her own companies in exclusively male dominated industries after turning her back on the “corporate world.”  Her stories and examples are authentic, and her advice for women in business, who own a company, or who are thinking about starting a business is direct, practical, pioneering, and barrier breaking. Spencer attended Boston University where she earned a BA. She later received her MA in Education/Economics from Hofstra University and received her law degree from Villanova University. Susan can be reached at SUSANTSPENCER1@aol.com. Follow her football talk on QB Talk http://susanspencer.audioacrobat.com/rss/susan-spencer-talks-football.xml

The Career Connection: Giving Others (and Yourself) the Gift of Time

By Nancy Bearg ~

It’s heartbreaking once again to see human beings in such distress – homeless, hurt, afraid, searching for loved ones, in need of the basics of life.  This time it’s Japan.  Last year, it was Haiti.  These are but two of the kinds of tragedies and needs that call out to us abroad and at home.

Our hearts go out to all these people, and we want to help.  Often, we tweet $10 to the Red Cross or write a check to our favorite charity.  This is valuable help.  It is a community of caring coming together.

So many of us want to help in person. We want to reach out and touch the women, men, and children who are suffering.  Those opportunities are not always available immediately – but there are longer-term ways to help. Volunteers still travel to the New Orleans area to replace houses demolished by Katrina.

Numbers of volunteers soar at times of tragedy, but the volunteer tradition is proud and strong among Americans on a daily basis.

Often, people take a break from work to volunteer for an extended time. It’s a type of sabbatical, or what some call a Reboot Break.  People make plans and arrangements to leave their jobs to volunteer for a period of weeks or months.  They may take the sabbatical from a job and return to it.  Or they may do it in between jobs.  Many people take a volunteering break before retirement to explore their retirement options.

Margaret and Mark have loved volunteering throughout their married life.  In the 80’s, they traveled in Sudan and fell in love with the people.  When the devastating famine struck there later, they raised money in their hometown of Ketchum, Idaho, and went to Sudan to help.  They founded a feeding and medical clinic and added a special program for street kids.  They also have volunteered extensively in their home community.  The last several winters, the two have gone to Mexico to explore where they would like to retire.  They’ve found the perfect town, drawn there in large part by several compelling volunteer opportunities from which to choose as the center of their new life.

It’s common to combine volunteering with other ways to spend a sabbatical.  It can be satisfying to fill the days with different types of activities.  Someone may spend time with an ill friend or family member while also volunteering at the local animal shelter or reading to kids plus time for exercise and having fun with friends.

Betsy is a North Carolina hand doctor who took a sabbatical to volunteer in South Africa.   The other doctors in her small practice group were skeptical, but she arranged for a doctor new to town to take her patients for several months.  Her time in South Africa was everything she hoped for personally, and she knew she was making a real contribution there through her skills.  Before and after her travel to Africa, she used the time to reacquaint with family and friends and start jogging again.  Today, she has a thriving medical practice and a better life balance, which includes volunteering in her own community.

Rita says that volunteer work has always been one of her passions. It took a Reboot Break to satisfy her desire to become more deeply involved.

Though I contributed financially to several non-profit organizations and was on the board of one, I started to crave spending more time on work that seemed so important to me. When my company announced that it was moving its headquarters to another part of the country, it was the perfect time to take a sabbatical. I immersed myself in microfinance, a field where the results are immediate, tangible, and scalable. I was soon asked to become chair of Pro Mujer, a non-profit organization that gives $170 loans and business training to women in Latin America whose families earn under $2 a day.  They also receive health services for the whole family. It changes their lives.

I was able to bring my business knowledge and experience to bear on several strategic areas for the organization. Since I wasn’t working at an 8-6 (or 24/7) job, I had time to travel to meet the women in the programs in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru, and Mexico, and to help start a program in Argentina. My life is so enriched by all the amazing South American women I met on that sabbatical. They and their children inspire me every day.

Reaching out to others isn’t confined to Baby Boomers like Rita, Mark, and Margaret.  How many young people do you know who volunteered for a summer overseas or for a few months before, during, or after high school or college?  I know several who spent time in Africa as volunteers and are now working there.

Many corporations encourage volunteering as part of their Social Responsibility initiative.  Some give paid corporate sabbaticals to employees who want to give back.  Even if there is no formal program, people yearning to volunteer overseas may find their company receptive to paying them for such a sabbatical.

Do you have to be a doctor or teacher or have other specialized training?  No, any kind of giving of oneself is a way to help.  We cannot all go to humanitarian crisis zones overseas, though many of us will.  As part of the “new volunteerism” industry, we can find organized overseas volunteer programs in countries that are not necessarily in crisis zones. People of all ages go online, find an opportunity almost anywhere in the world, and sign up. The participants are individuals on sabbatical, groups of friends, and families on vacation.

Closer to home, we can work on humanitarian crises or everyday problems by collecting clothes, filling food banks, driving, helping organize efforts, assisting in communication through language or technology, loading and unloading trucks, helping to rescue animals separated from their owners.

Our workdays are full from morning to bedtime.  We are “on” and accountable to our computers or smart phones, our horizons narrowing to the screen and our immediate concerns.  Taking time to volunteer and give back is multi-dimensional.  It is a chance to step back and also to expand.  It’s a gift of time for oneself and for others.  No one wishes tragedy for any people or country, but perhaps it gives us all opportunities as part of the human community.

About the author:
Nancy Bearg is a co-author of Reboot Your Life: Energize Your Career and Life by Taking a Break. She has worked on humanitarian crises in her national security public policy professional career, has taken several sabbaticals and is an avid volunteer.  Visit her at www.rebootbreak.com.

The Career Connection: Women, You Lead Differently From Men ~ A Good Thing in the World of Business!

Susan T. Spencer is one of a kind; an entrepreneur and business professional who competes in the big leagues—male-dominated industries.

Susan learned about football from her father and business from her parents and grandparents. Before the age of 40, Susan was a mother, junior high school teacher, a tennis dress manufacturer, a lawyer and General Manager of football’s Philadelphia Eagles.

After several years at the Eagles, she left to start her second business—a food distribution company, Allegro Foods, which she grew into a successful global company. Susan continued to expand her business empire by buying two more exclusively male businesses—both in meat processing. Her companies had combined annual revenues of 50 million, and she attributes her success to 12 natural talents that all women possess.

In the category of unique, here are 5 of the 12 skills that women own that help them lead and succeed and certainly skills that men covet.

Perceptive Communication

Women are natural communicators. Men listen, and women talk . . . to everyone. Women’s ability to communicate is not just their ability to talk; they are also aware of what others are thinking. All of women’s senses contribute to their special talent, (touch, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), giving them a decided advantage in evaluating a business situation. These traits, along with other observations that women instinctively notice, such as body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and body movements, collectively represent what women in business uniquely possess—the ability to be perceptive communicators.

Being Empathetic

The ability to identify with and understand someone else’s feelings or difficulties is a female leadership skill that engenders employee loyalty and trust. The best way for me to describe empathy is to share with you a brief story that happened to me when I was forced to shut down one of my meat plants because it was losing millions of dollars with no end in sight.

As a leader, I knew not to have a buddy-buddy relationship with my employees. I felt it would compromise my ability to be objective and manage effectively. I followed this principle throughout my career; and in most cases it served me well. My plan was to call a meeting of my employees in the cafeteria and tell them that I could not fix this broken company that I purchased and operated for several years. I intended to tell them that I was truly sorry but the plant wouldbe closed in 60 days.

My plan was to tell the story in a calm, clear, unemotional way. But when I stood in front of the workers and looked into the eyes of the men and women I worked with every day, tears filled my eyes and the tears continued to fall until my speech was finished. I feared that an angry crowd of workers would mock me, but as I dried my eyes and tried to gain some composure, one of my workers shouted out, “You’re not so tough!” and the rest of the employees applauded and laughed warmly in appreciation.

It’s a rare moment when most bosses or figures of authority show this side of themselves, but if it’s sincere, it’s a moment that will be appreciated forever by everyone who witnesses it. Because I communicated openly and honestly with all the employees, every worker stayed on and saw the company through until closing day, saving me from even greater losses. Empathy is an awesome skill when it is used carefully and wisely in business situations.

Being Engaging

Have you observed the way most businessmen greet each other? I have. They immediately extend their hand and wait for the other person to do the same; then they grasp hands firmly and give a shake or two. Generally, they don’t make eye contact with each other, and if they exchange words, they’re often mumbled or perfunctory.

When women greet each other, they hug, they smile, and they look each other in the eye and say how good it is to see the other one. Thisis true even if they’re business colleagues. These gestures are more than symbolic—it’s how women use body language to communicate the importance of relationships.

When you meet a businessperson in the ordinary course of business, being engaging includes the way you meet and greet other businesspersons. It begins the moment you extend your hand and continues throughout the greeting. Don’t miss an opportunity to make a great initial impression by using your natural skill of being engaging, it can be the most powerful “Briefcase Essential” that you carry.

Being Inclusive

Businesswomen are “people persons”—they fill this role naturally because they are comfortable relating one-on-one with people at all levels of an organization. We make it a point to know the names and faces of people we are working with; we want them to know us and we want to feel comfortable with them as well. Sometimes, your customers or suppliers will feel so comfortable with you that they share personal information which brings the relationship closer and gives you the opportunity to be candid and straightforward with them about business problems when they arise.

Businessmen tend to act impersonally and do not interact at all levels; in other words they are exclusive not inclusive. For women the term “inclusive” carries with it an implicit acknowledgement that “people come first.” By being inclusive with every business contact—whether customer, supplier, or employee—the natural talents that women apply to business give them a decisive edge. Never underestimate the strength of leadership that we possess by championing the maxim of being inclusive which carries with it an implied understanding that people come first.

Being Resourceful

Every business has its ups and downs and in one of my companies the downs seemed never ending. One of the most important business skills—and a talent that women seem to be able to handle better than men, is juggling lots of balls in the air at one time. Women problem solve the same way—they think about several options instead of zeroing in on one, toss them around in their head, weigh alternatives, consider several points of view, and come up with more than one way to proceed. Here how being resourceful temporarily solved my business problem when I discovered I couldn’t cover payroll for the 200 employees that worked in my company.

My solution was to stretch payment to my large suppliers past their seven-day terms one day at a time until my company was actually paying them in fourteen or twenty-one days. I figured out that if they demanded payment in full immediately, and we could not pay it, they’d eventually force my company into bankruptcy, which would end their chance of getting paid in full. Their only other option would be to accept my offer and extend my payment terms—and it worked!

Susan’s recently published business book, Briefcase Essentials, www.BriefcaseEssentials.com,includes all 12 of the natural talents that women need to succeed in a male-dominated workplace and includes lots of personal stories ( including the anecdotes above in much greater detail ) about working in male-dominated businesses. By reading Briefcase Essentials women will learn how to deal with men in business instead of trying to act like them.

copyright @ 2011 SusanT.Spencer

Susan T. Spencer was an entrepreneur and business professional before many women had the courage to play in the big leagues with men. Her companies reached annual revenues of $50 million.

Susan learned about football and business from her father, Leonard Tose, who owned a professional football team. She was the first and only female to hold the position as General Manager of an NFL team, The Philadelphia Eagles.

After her time with the team, Susan added three more exclusively male businesses to her ventures, one in food distribution and two in meat processing, one of which she owned and ran for more than 20 years. Susan’s beef company was the only woman owned company that sold millions of pounds of meat products to national chains including McDonald’s, Chili’s, Dairy Queen, Jack in the Box, and many others.

Spencer attended Boston University where she earned a BA. She later received her MA in Education/Economics from Hofstra Universityand received her law degree from Villanova University.

She currently consults with small business owners when they are ready to “take off”, is a lecturer and business blogger, is on the Advisory Board of a Utah bank and is working with banks across the country to include a Women’s Financial Group as a separate category within each bank. She also serves as an advisor to several international non -profits as an “expert in growing a small business.”

Website: www.BriefcaseEssentials.com

Briefcase Essentials is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and through any major bookseller.