Saturday July 4, 2009
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
Each month I inform you, my valued readers, about the national "month is" celebrations for the current month. Many countries adopt causes or a special interest group to promote during a calendar month and the United States is particularly prolific at creating "national month" events to promote business interests.
July events include month-long observance to honor bereaving parents, screen for Hemochromatosis (iron overload disease, a deadly but treatable disorder that can cause "bronze diabetes" and organ failure), and to promote social wellness are all great ideas.
But "Lasagna Awareness Month?" Is there a pasta crisis we are all ignoring? Some events are just so silly they diminish the importance of other events. We need "National No More Silly Months."
- Air-Conditioning Appreciation Days
- Bereaved Parents Month
- Bioterrorism/Disaster Education and Awareness Month
- Cell Phone Courtesy Month
- Family Reunion Month
- Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month
- International Blondie and Deborah Harry Month
- National Child-Centered Divorce Month
- National Culinary Arts Month
- National Doghouse Repairs Month
- National Make a Difference to Children Month
- National Recreation and Parks Month
- National Share A Sunset With Your Lover Month
- National Wheelchair Beautification Month
- Sandwich Generation Month
- Smart Irrigation Month
- Social Wellness Month
- Tour de France Month
- Women's Motorcycle Month
July is also officially national: Grilling, Baked Bean, Picnic, Pickle, Blueberries, Horseradish, National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, and Lasagna Awareness Month.
Is there a way your business can tie in "July is National Month?" to a special promotion or event?
Friday July 3, 2009
A Women in Business reader, asks:
I'm establishing a business and found a terrific marketing manager. Since I don't have the funds to pay him monthly for his service I've decided to work out a percentage of a partnership with him. Do you have suggestions on this?
First, the obvious – put everything in writing.
You need to clearly establish whether he will be a general or limited partner – it makes a huge legal difference. General partners have liability to the company so you may need to include a general partner on your business insurance policy.
A general partner owns part of a business and has legal rights to benefit from income and profits, but also has unlimited legal liability for the debts of the partnership. A general partner is actively involved in the day-to-day decisions and operations of the partnership.
A limited partner has certain legal rights to benefit from income and profits, but has no legal liability for the debts of the partnership. A limited partner is not actively involved in the day-to-day decisions and operations of the partnership.
If you want to form the partnership as a limited partnership you should put in writing that although the partnership is limited, the partner has agreed to offer certain marketing services pro bono in lieu of a cash investment.
As for percentage arrangements, if you will be the partner assuming all the debts and obligations, you should also retain the majority of the percentage of ownership and profits.
Good luck with your new business!
Information About Business Partnerships
Thursday July 2, 2009
Our Challenge, Our Future
Shoot Nations 2009: Growing up in the 21st Century Contest
Calling all women (and little girls) with a camera. "Shoot Nations 2009" is running a contest for photographers who want to offer their voice about the challenges of growing up female (or male).
If you do not have a camera, you can also submit a drawing or graphics design (see contest details about non-photographic entries).
Selected photos will be shared at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to celebrate International Youth Day 2009 on August 12, 2009.
The theme of IYD2009 is Sustainability: Our Challenge, Our Future. Selected photos will be exhibited in the UN Secretariat building in New York City, from 3-14 August 3-14, 2009.
Deadline: Contests closes July 31, 2009 at 6 p.m. GMT. Early entry increases your chance of your photos being exhibited.
Contest Theme: Growing up in the 21st century.
"The goal is to build a global picture of the challenges facing young people in terms of the limitations and opportunities that come with being born male or female."
What to Enter: Share your thoughts and feelings on the following three briefs (you can submit 1 photo per brief):
- Because I am a Girl / Because I am a Boy (pick one)
- What’s holding me back?
- What could I be?
Open To: Everyone ages 11 through 25.
Complete Contest Details
Find dozens of business contests in WIB's forums, or subscribe to WIB's Twitter Feed to get updates and alerts about contests delivered to you.
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison for his crimes. Given his incredible greed and heartless lack of concern for the folks he swindled, "fraud" just does not seem a strong enough word to convey the level of damage he inflicted on the lives of so many.
There are good leaders and bad ones. Madoff was clearly a bad one. But as I sat glued to the tube waiting for the outcome I was also reminded of an amazing (and good, in fact, very good) leader, Marilyn Carlson Nelson.
In her book, "How We Lead Matters," she shares how the true test of a leader is really what happens after they leave a company. Were the foundations strong? Were others groomed and mentored to fill in the shoes as new leaders? The legacy is the leader.
While we can learn some valuable street-smart lessons from Madoff's example, let's not waste any more time on Madoff. Instead, I encourage you to look at the example of a leader, one who believes how we lead matters, turned her company into a model of diversity and a global billion-dollar corporation.
