RUTHERFORD Cable Blog



  • 04 Apr 2015 2:12 PM | Anonymous member

    Are There "Good Ol' Girl" Clubs for Professional Women?

    CEO and Founder, The Institute for Human and Leadership Excellence

     ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Lillian Gregory is a passionate advocate for Women in Leadership and Women in Technology who provides research, strategies, tools, workshops, and events to help close the gaps.

  • 08 Jan 2015 2:47 PM | Anonymous member

    TOP FIVE CAREER RESOLUTIONS FOR 2015

    Echell Eady, M.Ed. Nationally Certified Career and Education Advisor

    As we begin the new year, I offer the following suggestions for a happy and prosperous 2015.

    #1) Set Clear Goals – Just wanting to “move up”, “earn more”, or “get ahead” may not provide a clear enough target at which to aim. Be specific: I plan to increase my earnings by __ %, my next promotion will be to __, or I will initiate a business introduction with __ at ___ Company where I’m interested in being hired.

    #2) Become An Authority – Choose one area of focus that, when mastered, will propel you toward the career scenario of your dreams. Make it your business to know this subject better than anyone else. Read, research, observe. Become the ‘go-to’ person for this topic.

    #3) Own Your Story – Each experience, triumph, and mistake that has brought you to this point in your life is part of your unique journey. Be proud of your story and embrace the value it adds to your personal brand.

    #4) Help Someone Else – Do you volunteer in your community? One of the most effective ways to become known as a relevant contributor in your field is to serve. As a volunteer, you’ll work alongside others who share your interests and passions. At the same time, you'll get to demonstrate your talents and expertise to potential decision-makers in your field.

    #5) Enjoy Yourself - Confucius said "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life". Mark Anthony mused "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life". The notion that an affinity for any occupation can prevent it from feeling like work has been expressed for centuries in a myriad of ways. Work is called work for a reason, and at times it may feel like drudgery. 

    However, finding ways to connect your occupation with your highest values and greatest interests will keep even a difficult employment situation from becoming unbearable. If the ‘what’ in what you do brings you little joy, revel in the outcomes of your work. If the outcomes of your work are not bliss-worthy, focus on your compensation and how you use it to delight yourself, you family, and the charities of your choice.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL! 

  • 25 Aug 2014 3:44 PM | Deleted user

    Telling the truth is best way to correct mistake

    By Rory Vaden, For The Tennesseean- http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2014/08/24/telling-truth-best-way-correct-mistake/14514031/

    We've all been there. We've all made mistakes. Trying to live your life without making mistakes is futile. Learning how to respond correctly after you make them is crucial.

    Yet I notice in the world today, and in me, an immature tendency to avoid taking ownership of our own mistakes.

    None of us likes to make mistakes and no one wants to be the center of negative attention. But if you've messed up, there is a right way to react and a wrong way undefined primarily three very common wrong ways. I call them the 3 Strategies of Shiftiness. See if they sound familiar.

    • The Lie: We flat-out make up little white lies to try and diminish our mistake. We blame FedEx for the unmet delivery time when in reality we didn't meet the deadline. We blame traffic for arriving late when really we slept in.

    Why do we make up these little lies? One reason is because we think we can get away with it, but the deeper reason is because we are simply embarrassed by our own incompetence. And the lie allows us to pretend a little longer that we're perfect and we really have it all together and this was just an extenuating circumstance.

    • The Shift: We see this all the time. We bring someone else into our mistake and throw them under the bus with us. "I was doing my part, but then Jane didn't quite do hers."

    The hilarious irony is that we often kick off that story by saying something like, "I don't want to throw anyone under the bus, but ..." Why do we do this? I don't think it's because we're evil; I think it's because we're weak. We simply feel vulnerable that we made a mistake, and by bringing in someone else, (we think) it somehow diminishes the focus on us.

    • The Compare: Finally, in classic shifty fashion, we will attempt to deflect attention from our mistake by bringing up a past instance of what we think was someone else's mistake that we never got resolution from. But there couldn't be a worse time for this.

    If there is some other issue from the past, deal with it separately at a separate time, otherwise it just makes you look worse.

    If you want to make yourself more forgivable and you want your life to be clear of emotional mess, you should try a different strategy.

    • The Transparent:Chances are you've heard the three strategies above (and used them) and you know how ultimately self-defeating they really are. They never bring complete resolution, and they erode trust because everybody involved knows what is happening even if they don't say it out loud.

    But here's a powerful response that no one can argue with that will totally absolve you and give you peace: "I wanted to do something good. It turned out to be something bad. Clearly it was a mistake. It's no one else's fault but my own. I am terribly sorry. Is there any way you can please forgive me?"

    Powerful. Direct. Honest. Cleansing. Freeing. Forgivable.

    RELATED: Read previous columns by Rory Vaden

    Because we all make mistakes, we can all easily empathize with the desire and need for forgiveness. But because we all make mistakes, we can also clearly sniff out when someone is employing one of the 3 Strategies of Shiftiness.

    You can be shifty and still get my forgiveness. Forgiveness, after all, is about my choice to be free of your sins rather than to hold onto them.

    But you can't be shifty and still keep my trust. I know a little white lie when I see one because I've spent my entire life becoming an expert at coming up with them myself.

    So it's OK to make a mistake. But if you want to be more forgivable to those around you, make sure to cover up your mistake with powerful truth rather than compounding it with little lies.

    Rory Vaden is co-founder of Southwestern Consulting, a self-discipline strategist and speaker and New York Times bestselling author of "Take the Stairs." Listen to his weekly podcast and get free daily insights at www.roryvadenblog.com.






  • 14 Jul 2014 10:40 AM | Deleted user



    Emily Ellis delighted attendees at RutherfordCABLE's July Breakfast Meeting. View her engaging presentation HERE.

  • 17 Feb 2014 3:37 PM | Deleted user

    Forget Work-Life Balance: It's Time for Work-Life Blend

    Working Late

    Last summer I had an early morning conference call with another consultant and one of his clients. As we were wrapping up, I asked the other two people from where they were calling. One sheepishly said that she was vacationing on the Jersey Shore with her family and had sneaked out early to make the call. The second person admitted that he was on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard and had done the same thing. I then confessed that I was calling from westernMassachusetts where my family had rented a lake cottage. After a moment of silence, one of us said, “Boy! Are we stupid!” We all laughed as we ended the call undefined and then presumably went back to our vacations (and our e-mails).

    What’s interesting about this story is not that we were doing work on our vacations, but rather that none of us questioned the timing of the work call in the first place. We all presumably knew that the call would occur during our holidays, yet no one suggested an alternative date.

    The reality for many of us these days is that our professional lives bleed into our personal lives. The boundaries are increasingly permeable and movable. We check our emails in the evenings and weekends. We delay or miss family events because we can’t leave the office. And when we do, we take our communications devices with us so that we can stay connected to work.


    In previous posts I’ve encouraged professionals to manage the work-life balance more proactively by thinking through their priorities and consciously addressing how work intrudes on their personal lives. But in light of how many of us blend work time with personal time, perhaps this advice is overly simplistic undefined unrealistic even. Maybe we need to accept the fact that the sharp demarcation between work and home is a thing of the past, and that the new normal is a life that integrates home and work more seamlessly.

    Focusing on work-life “integration” instead of work-life “balance” has at least a couple of implications: First (and the one that I like the most) is that we can stop feeling guilty about scheduling calls during our vacations or checking our emails at night; and by the same token not feel guilty about talking with our spouses, friends, and family members during work time.

    The second implication is that we no longer split up our time so rigidly between “work hours” and “non-work hours.” Instead, let’s be flexible about when and how we accomplish both our work goals and our personal goals. Obviously some of this has to be negotiated with others, both at work (who is on call for customers?) and home (who gets to use the car?). But the point is to make this a natural part of how we organize our lives instead of a special perk or exceptional situation.

    Most organizations of course are not set up to accommodate employees who want to blend their personal and work lives, and in fact actively discourage it through work rules, inflexible hours, and other practices. A number of pilot projects, however, have shown that when teams of interdependent workers (e.g., customer services representatives) are empowered to create their own plans for how and when to get their work done, productivity improves considerably.

    So maybe it’s time to rethink not only the way we organize work undefined but also the way we organize our lives. Instead of pushing back or feeling resentful when work issues interrupt us, let’s accept that interruptions are a part of life; whether they are caused by children, friends, family dramas, broken pipes undefined or phone calls during our vacations.

    What are your thoughts about the increasing integration of home and work?


    Ron Ashkenas is a senior partner of Schaffer Consulting, a Stamford,Connecticut consulting firm and the author of the book Simply Effective: How to Cut Through Complexity in Your Organization and Get Things Done.

    Editor’s Note: A version of this blog was cross-posted on HBR.org. Link to origianl story- http://www.forbes.com/sites/ronashkenas/2012/10/19/forget-work-life-balance-its-time-for-work-life-blend/

  • 21 Oct 2013 8:43 AM | Deleted user

    Nashville Biz Blog-  http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog

    Oct. 15, 2013, 12:30 pm CDT
    Written by Margaret Morford, Guest Columnist & CEO of The HR Edge Inc

    My husband and I were out to dinner recently and ordered a bottle of wine, and the server poured us each a glass.

    I pointed out that almost every time this happens, the server pours more for him than for me. When I put the glasses side by side, he had indeed received more wine. I immediately dubbed this the "Man's Pour."

    Because my husband is a journalist, he is intrinsically curious. He asked me why I thought the "Man's Pour" happens. I believe it is because, in general, men are better tippers than women. Many servers have told me they prefer to wait on men because it is more lucrative for them. While that is a generalization about genders, it is a perception derived from real behavior.

    The "Man's Pour" phenomenon has led me to think about whether there are things we do as women that keep us from making greater progress into the upper ranks of corporate America.

    Let me offer three concrete examples and exactly how we can change this.

    First, most women operate on the premise that they have to like everyone with whom they work. When someone treats us harshly in the workplace, we often spend the rest of our career thinking of ways to get even, or trying to align as many people as possible against him or her. My advice: Quit taking it personally.

    Second, very few successful women reach down and help other women. I often see an attitude of "I had to claw my way to the top, so they should too." I have gotten help from a lot of people while advancing my career (although, the majority of them were men). We have an obligation, particularly as women, to reach down and lift other women up.

    Third -- and this is the most subtle yet deadly behavior -- while men in the workplace covet, women envy. Women see another's success and tell themselves, "I want what he/she has ... and I wish he/she didn’t have it." When you see success as a limited commodity, you begin to resent anyone who has it. Eventually this puts you at odds with every other successful person in your organization.

    To eliminate these behaviors, here are four crucial questions I challenge all women to ask themselves:

    • Who did I turn into my ally today?
    • Who did I help or teach something to today?
    • Who did I put in the spotlight today?
    • Who did I thank for his/her work today?

    If we required ourselves to answer these questions every day, women would create a huge network of supporters to draw upon. And that would lead to much better representation at the highest levels of all types of organizations.

    Margaret Morford is CEO of Brentwood-based The HR Edge Inc. Email her at mmorford@thehredge.net.




  • 16 Sep 2013 8:12 AM | Deleted user

    MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (September 12, 2013) – Members and guests of RutherfordCABLE met Tuesday, September 10, at Stones River Country Club for their monthly breakfast meeting. RutherfordCABLE is a local organization formed in 2009 to help women widen their professional and personal circles and connect with greater business opportunities.

    Breakfast meeting attendees heard keynote speaker Kasar Abdulla speak on the topic:Are We There Yet? Abdulla, born in Iraq and a former refugee, provided insight on women in today’s society. She highlighted the fact that while women have come very far in society, there are still many challenges that face women today. Abdulla is a member of the Board of Directors for YWCA Nashville, is a 2013 YP Nominee for the Athena International Leadership Program Award and is a 2011 Leadership Nashville alumnus.  She is a member of NashvilleCABLE. 

    RutherfordCABLE members have the opportunity to sponsor a monthly breakfast meeting to showcase their business. The September breakfast meeting was sponsored by Mollie Ann Trollinger with Newk’s Eatery. Newk's is an express casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere located at The Avenue Murfreesboro and in Franklin off Cool Springs Blvd. Newk’s serves fresh tossed salads, oven-baked sandwiches, California-style pizzas and homemade cakes, while also providing catering services to the Middle Tennessee area. 

    RutherfordCABLE recognizes a Spotlight Member each month. The September spotlight member is Ginger Spencer, Director of Marketing for Special Kids, Inc. Ginger serves on the marketing committee and membership recruitment committee for RutherfordCABLE. Special Kids is a local nonprofit that serves children with special needs by providing rehabilitation and nursing services.

  • 13 Aug 2013 3:20 PM | Deleted user

    MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (August 13, 2013) – RutherfordCABLE, a leading networking and professional development organization serving local business professionals, held its monthly breakfast meeting Tuesday, August 13, at Stones River Country Club. 

    RutherfordCABLE members have the opportunity to sponsor a monthly breakfast meeting to showcase their business. The August breakfast meeting was sponsored by Jenn Seratt with Provident Consulting Inc., a local consulting agency formed to serve the management needs of nonprofit agencies and churches. Provident Consulting aims to “create an environment where our nation’s social, economic, and spiritual needs are met by financially sound churches and community non-profits and not by our government.”

    Attendees had the opportunity to hear featured keynote speaker Dawn “Dew” Tennin speak on the topic: Is your workplace a “no” place or a “yes” place? Tennin, a Professional Sales Coach with Southwestern Consulting, discussed ways we can make efforts to change negative thoughts to positive thinking and the importance of creating a complaint free environment at work. “Complaints come in all shapes and sizes,” stated Tennin. “The average person complains 15-30 times a day.” RutherfordCABLE members were encouraged following the meeting and challenged with the acronym “NEAT,” standing for “no excuses accepted today.”

    RutherfordCABLE recognizes a Spotlight Member each month. The August spotlight member is Mary Meisenbach, Accounting Manager for City Tile and Floor Covering in Murfreesboro. Meisenbach has been Treasurer of RutherfordCABLE for 3 years.

    Contact Deborah Roberts at Deborah.d.roberts@gmail.com for information on how you can help support or participate in the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s on September 7.

  • 30 May 2013 8:14 AM | Anonymous
    With social networking literally at our fingertips, many of us don’t get as much practice with traditional networking. Engaging with colleagues, business prospects and friends face-to-face requires alternate skill sets than those expected through online interactions.

    For instance, you must think on your feet in a real-time networking scenario, while social networking allows delays in between interactions. Someone may post on your wall, and you can respond hours later with a crafted response. Try any amount of non-response or quiet time in a face-to-face networking session. Awkward.

    Further, traditional networking requires you to translate social cues and control your own simultaneously. In social networking, all you have is words. The complexities of tone and body language can’t be fulfilled in emoticons.

    When you’re face to face, your actual words mean little in your overall impressions. Many studies show words account for less than 10 percent of what you’re actually conveying during face-to-face interaction.

    With digital interactions occurring more regularly than in-person exchanges, many of us need to brush up on our traditional networking skills.

    Here are five networking tips I live by and regularly pass on to the business teams I work with:

    1. Brush up on industry news. Leading up to the event, I refresh myself on the industry best-sellers and spend a bit more time than usual ingesting news. I recommend this because you want to make sure you can contribute to conversation on multiple levels. The best way to do this is by familiarizing yourself with relevant news.

    2. Set a goal. The overall point of a business networking is to establish and develop business connections. There’s no reason to be shy about that. Anyone attending the networking event realizes the fundamental purpose. Networking isn’t an opportunity to isolate yourself in a corner with colleagues you’re already familiar with to catch up on industry gossip.

    When I owned my wireless company, my sales team and I would meet before a networking event and write out our individual objectives in attending the conference, mixer or happy hour. Maybe your goal would be to set up three subsequent face-to-face visits with contacts you meet at the event. Perhaps your goal is to pass out your business card to 10 qualified leads while you’re there. Establishing these goals keep you focused on the primary reason you’re there undefined to do business.

    3. Arrange introductions. The truth is, I’m kind of an introvert. If I’m hoping to get some face time with someone whom I’ve never met before, approaching him or her directly isn’t my preferred method of setting the introduction. What I like to do is find a mutual connection who can initiate the meeting. This approach eases any anxiety an introvert like myself may feel in a big networking setting. If you look, and ask around, you can find a friend in the room to make that connection.

    4. Shut up and listen. When you’re engaging in conversation, let the other person do most of the talking and listen to what he or she saying. Lending someone your ear is a fast way to make a friend. Why? Because a good listener is a rare find and therefore valued. That’s advice straight from Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Plus, by really listening, you’ll be able to respond intelligently and you might even learn something. I go by an 80/20 rule undefined the other person has the spotlight and talks 80 percent of the time.

    5. Lend a helping hand. Instead of focusing on how connections can help you, discover ways you can help your new acquaintances. In a world where many are focused on self-glorification, finding ways to bolster others is refreshing. Do this: Ask, “What can I do for you?” You can bet they don’t get asked that often.

    This doesn’t have to be extravagant. If someone is talking passionately about an industry hot topic, tell him or her about a blog post you recently read on the subject and offer to email the link. Once you follow through in the coming days, you’ll show you’re reliable. Plus, by extending the conversation past the networking event, you’ve deepened your connection.

    Traditional networking helps pave the path to deep relationships, which are essential to professional and personal well-being. That being said, the real value of networking happens after the event is over when the conversation can evolve past the 15-minute small talk during a one-on-one coffee or email correspondence. I challenge you to think in these terms at your next event: How do I make this new connection last 25 years? Then, follow through with your actions accordingly.

    What are your best networking tips? Email me at andy@petracoach.com.

    Andy Bailey is lead entrepreneur coach with business coaching firm, Petra, and serves as the Entrepreneur Organization’s global membership director. Visit his blog at petracoach.com for more business and leadership insight.

     

  • 14 May 2013 2:55 PM | Anonymous

    BOOMERS

    GEN X

     

    MILLENIAL

    Group

    Independent

    Team

     

    Seniority

    Competence

     

     

    Interpersonal skills

    Not!

     

    Not!

     

    Share

    Private

     

    Share

    Relationship

    Task

     

     

     

    No structure

    Need structure

     

    Work-life Disproportion

    Work – Life Balance

     

    Work – Life Integration

    8: 00 to ???

    8:00 to 5:00

     

    Why schedule?

    Talk about it

    Get it done

    How do you want it done?

    Technology is cool

    Technology is a tool

    Technology is a part of my body

    WORK ETHIC

     

    WORK ETHIC

     

    WORK ETHIC