Women Like Me

When I taught modeling for many years I emphasized that glamor is hard work.

This truth came back to me a few weeks ago as my partner Tabitha and I shot a segment for Animal Planet on the Discovery Channel. How glamorous –the producer was flying up from Boston for the filming!

This small bit of background will add depth to the story.  I had recently suggested to my partner that in a recession we might be able to rent a second professional kitchen, at a good rate, with a storefront in a pet friendly neighbourhood. Tabitha found one that seemed perfect. It had just been rented by a new business owner who was eager to share to help her cash flow. Tabitha told me there were many beautiful dogs being walked right outside the door as she discussed the rental terms.

I did not see the space until the morning of the shoot when I arrived with the 3 outfits requested by the director, fresh flowers and a full baking of the mini banana cakes with yogurt icing that we serve at pet brunches and parties. There was my partner with a scarf over her hair and a look of horror on her face.

Seemed Like a Good Idea

The other “sharers” of the kitchen had, in the brief time since she had been there, reduced the kitchen to a state suitable for that other show where the two brave English women clean up filthy homes.  There was even a tray of incinerated tarts left on the greasy counter. The film crew was due in an hour.  We scrubbed with gallons of Windex purchased at the nearby convenience store and hid horrors in corners.  The only item that was too big to hide in the kitchen was the hideous nearly life-sized plaster chef with the amputated arm. Why would you want that promoting your cooking business?

The crew arrived. They set up their lights and cameras.  The producer said okay lets start. We said but we have to change. We brought 3 outfits as the director asked. He said you are fine the way you are.

In unison we said “No way”.

We did not mention that we had been washing floors and scrubbing the stove in our current outfits.

My How You’ve Changed

In our fresh outfits the shoot went well and time passed, including lunchtime.

Tabitha and I are both devout foodies.

Missing lunch was cruel especially when they were filming our Chef preparing his fabulous Shepherd’s Pie for cats.

We held on because the script called for the producer to sit down with us and enjoy the cat meal to show the quality and taste. But that scene never happened!

More hours past and one of the crew mentioned that the little cakes looked good.

I offered everyone a cake. We still had enough to do the scene. At 5 ish we left to drive to various clients’ homes to deliver the food and film their cats enjoying their Trust meal.

Did I Mention the Cold?

The shoot was done on the coldest spring day in living memory. Now we were hungry and shooting freezing outdoor bits.  For a few glorious minutes I was able to sit alone in the “Trust” car and get warm.

There was the box of extra cakes—should I eat 1? What if they needed more for a scene and I had eaten 1 or 2 or?

I ate them ALL of them.

Tabitha joined me and we left for the next client home at the north end of the city.

Trust Partners

Our partnership is built on ethics, honesty and trust so I confessed what I had done to which she responded “Thank God you did because I ate all the ones left on the set”.

Our last stop about 9 p.m. was Tabitha’s house. She called ahead to her house mate to have emergency rations waiting.

If she had made us garbage cans in white wine sauce I would have eaten it with gratitude.

Watch Us this October

It was a great adventure and yes we still felt glamorous in the parts of us that were still feeling. So this October please watch us on Cats 101 and enjoy the reality behind our 15 hours of fame.

It is tempting to let insurance expire and use the funds to put out a small financial fire.

Think carefully!

During  the last recession many in Ontario Canada cancelled their business or property insurance.

In July, at the end of 3 days of incredible heat and humidity, we had a storm that went beyond anything

I had witnessed or heard about.

Media coverage said that in 1 hour there were 20,000 lightening strikes and numerous tornadoes.

The next morning a local marina was gone, completely.

Because business had been poor early in the tourist season the owners had just cancelled their insurance.

Now they had no way to recover. Their home and business were both gone.

I thought about this on the weekend as I read my new insurance policy.

As always some of the conditions seemed farfetched and had always made me laugh–

like insurance will not cover you if a plane crashes into your house.

The recent crash near Buffalo moved the farfetched into the “could happen” column in my mind.

Insurance is certainly not a guarantee but ————.

Recently I watched an interview with an electrician who had just been laid off.   He said “I am 50 who will hire me?” my reaction was – I will.  Why does he need to look for another corporate structure to allow  him to work?  Allow him now and fire him later as the only asset companies do not value is their employees.

Value yourself!  Hire yourself!  Consider opening your own  business.

Is this the right time?  Any time is the right time for the right business.  Not all businesses do badly in a recession.   Last recession chocolate stores did very well.   I observed at Valentine’s  Day 2009 that chocolate sales were up over last year.   Tropic vacations may not be selling but Bed and Breakfasts close to large cities may do well.

Organic pet foods and pet toys are still selling very well.

Is it frightening to start a business?  Of course but so is unemployment and working in a firm under threat of layoffs.

There will be pooh-poohers of all kinds.   Most do not know their assets from their elbows.   Be polite but ignore them.   Only listen to other entrepreneurs and professionals.

Our electrician for example will  hear  ”you are too old who will hire you?”.

Instead of feeling “small”  when faced with this antiquated and muddled logic he could cheerfully respond that he will be in his own business for at least 20 years and it will not take quite that long to wire their new dryer.   His age is an asset not a deterant to his level of service!

Is it risky to start a business?  Of course, but you are taking a risk on you not depending on a company.

Why would I hire the electrician?   He has decades of skill and experience, a work ethic from before the post millennium

“I’m not responsible economy”

and he has done more than the narrow range of trades work  common on cookie cutter housing developments.  My bias (reinforced by work just done on my home) tells me that he will be polite, able to form clear factual sentences when responding to my questions and will be considerate of my work time by showing up on the agreed upon day.

Please visit womenlikeme.ca and read the articles on starting your own business.

Entrepreneurship is the new security!

Sorry for the inconvenience.  We were hacked and are in the process of completely rebuilding the site.

We expect to have everything back within the next day or so.  Please check back often!

We very much appreciate your continuing interest and support.

WLM Tech Support Team

Protect Your Party Animals

Holidays are a time for sharing with those we care about. This includes our cats and dogs but be aware of holiday dangers for pets. Hours of worry and expense at your vet’s office would chill your festivities.

Make a List and Check it Twice

Decorations

1. Open candle flames are a great danger for pets and humans.
2. An indoor evergreen tree has been a symbol of life reborn for centuries but it can be deadly for your pets. Tidy up fresh pine needles that could tear throats and intestines. Cover tree stand water that often contains deadly chemicals. An “it will be fine” tree can fall causing injury. Secure trees and hang medium sized bells on lower branches to jingle if the tree is being climbed.
3. Cords and bright lights are tempting as chew toys. Secure all cords.
4. Angel hair, tinsel, snow flock, spray snow, tinsel, glass ornaments and hooks are sparkling potential agony. Consider a “green tree” with natural decorations.
5. Beautiful traditional flowers and plants are a joy of the season but many pets cannot resist eating them. Some cause illness and some are deadly so use caution with poinsettias, amarillis, ivy, mistletoe, lilies and holly. Consider pet safety when you order plants for others.
6. Ribbons are for gifts not to decorate pets. Secure strings and ribbons on gifts under the tree.

People

1. Guests are well meaning but may not be pet smart. They leave doors open and carry deadly items like breath mints, medicines and drugs in their pockets and purses. Close the door on purses and coats in a separate room. When new gifts arrive check the wrappings and ornaments for pet dangers. An ID collar for your pet is even more vital during holidays.
2. When guest children are playing in the yard put your dog in another area. If a child causes a negative incident, the dog will be blamed with possibly tragic results.
3. Excitement can be too much (for us all). Give your pet a time-out in a quiet room with water and a favorite toy.
4. When guests are leaving, walk out with them and thump the hood of each car. Outdoor cats love the heat of a warm engine.
5. Set a timer to remind you that your dog is outside in the cold. Fun and visiting can make us lose track of time.

Foods

1. Be careful when selecting candies to be set out. Some ingredients can be poisonous to dogs.
2. We want our pets to be involved in the fun but feeding by guests can cause health problems.

Alcohol, chocolate, macadamia nuts, bones and fats are all upsetting /fatal for pets.

Tell guests that the pets have their own special holiday treats.

Call Trust Pet Cuisine (for residents of Ontario Canada) and our Chef will cook and deliver a Holiday dinner for your cat or dog that has all the seasonal treats adapted to be healthy for animal companions. Holiday meals for as little as $5.00. A great gift for the pet who has everything!

About Trust Pet Cuisine

Located in Toronto, Canada Trust Pet Cuisine offers affordable, fresh pet meals cooked by an international Chef. We buy the best human grade meats, fruits and vegetables from local farmers and retailers that Chef has worked with for years. The meals are conveniently delivered to your home.

For further information

Visit www.trustpetcuisine.com

Layoff is a terrifying word. Hard to have tactics or recession skills when everyone productive, lazy, pleasant, disruptive, experienced and novice are let go at the same time.

When the rumors begin should you leave? Give up a few more paychecks but beat the job rush?

Should you hang on and then be in the local job market with thousands of others with similar skills?

What if you leave and the layoffs never happen? You have lost all those years of seniority.

I do not have answers only suggestions. In many families both spouses work for the same company.  Talk about it and allow it to be a real possibility. Write down your fears on paper or screen. They are slightly smaller there than in your head. Negotiate with your terror. For each terror point write down the worst case at the bottom of the page and the best case at the top. Draw a line across the page at the level that you think is most likely to occur. Can you adapt to this level? Plan for this level.

Action is the best response to stress.

As I have mentioned earlier in the series you will come out of this with your values changed. You can decide what the effect of the changes will be in your life. For a clear look at our situation read Thomas Friedman’s book Hot, Flat, and Crowded. At the end he has this quote from Charles Bukowski

What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.

Related articles

• Ecopreneurs to play a key role in Friedman’s “Hot, Flat, and Crowded”

Behind the dark side of a recession is a darker side.

It is important to prepare by being aware.

As an opportunity presenter I teach how people react to sudden change:

1. They are afraid. Most people see any change as a negative, afraid they cannot deal with it well.
2. They get angry. Fear is uncomfortable; anger is more satisfying as then you can move to number 3
3. Blame someone for what is happening. This blame can rapidly deteriorate to “them”.
4. People revert to the behavior and values of a golden time, when the world was perfect.

When was the world perfect? Logic is not part of the 4 steps.

I am fond of 4b. I call it God lives in the ceiling.  When people tell me all would be well if we could go back to the —- insert your era,  They often talk to the ceiling as they spout the virtues of their golden time.

The Glass Half Empty – How will this affect your life?

In the last recession many men lost their jobs but the women kept theirs. They remained employed because they earned less and as the only paycheck they had to accapt any demands the employers made. Many male spouses who had been caring, sharing partners reverted to the “head of the household” from a bygone era. They raged that the wife was working, sat at home all day doing nothing and demanded dinner when the women came home at 6p.m., 7p.m. or 9p.m.  It often lead to physical abuse.

In the small business world colleagues of many years cheated their network. It was justified by a “its survival of the fittest” attitude. Banks called women’s business loans even though women paid their loans more reliably than men. As mentioned before I had entrepreneurs I had never met walk into my office and yell at me. Their pain loudly echoed in the glass that was half empty.

The Glass Half Full

Three friends and I founded a charity just before the recession hit in our area. It was to give business help to non profits and charities. The mandate shifted quickly as a wave of homelessness startled the city. So many people so fast, what could be done? We decided to provide sleeping bags as a bandaid solution while permanent answers were being developed. As we sought the opinions of friends, neighbours and colleagues their response was not encouraging.

“No body cares!”, “Its a dog eat dog world”, “What are you getting out of it?”

Naturally, as entrepreneurs, we ignored the advice and just got started. We asked for corporate help and got a massive positive response; stores to collect the sleeping bags, trucks to deliver the preowned sleeping bags to the free dry cleaning art work and ads by a top advertising firm. Police officers carried the bags in their cruisers to give out to the homeless on cold nights. All media gave us coverage whenever the temperature dropped.

Still we got negativity. We were accused of killing people with the dry cleaning chemicals (chemicals not used in 2 decades!) and one politician claimed that we caused homelessness by giving out sleeping bags. Sigh!

Then a distributor said we could buy a huge number of bags from a cancelled order for a bargian price if we could buy them in 10 days or they would be sent back to the factory. We had no money collection systems like credit cards as we had just collected used bags from families. How would we get $35.000.00 in 10 days? The media gave our plight great coverage but then– a postal strike!

We asked people to call us, pledge and send us the money when the strike ended.

The glass half empty people lectured us on destroying the charity- no one will send the money, they will forget———-

The glass half full people called us 24/7 and pledged money. We worked the phones in 12 hour shifts, all 4 of us! They drove to our office and dropped off cash and checks.  One elderly woman who could no longer see well enough to fill out a check had her friend assist her.

On that rainy mean Thanksgiving Day

I found a paper bag on my porch full of money and a note.

Two families who always celebrated together had a meeting and decided (children and adults) to do without their meal to give us the money they would have spent.

Did we get the money?  Yes! The strike ended and the envelopes flowed in. They flowed and flowed until we had $80,000.00. It paid for sleeping bags for that year and the next.

The Glass is Recycleable – The Truth About Darwin

Half empty loves to quote Darwin but incorrectly. What he actually said was:

evolution belongs to the most adaptable

The fear, anger and blame response will not stop change but it will probably guarantee that you will not find opportunity in the change.  If you believe the glass is half empty you will read and listen to media that reinforce your belief. It will be easy to find friends to support your dispair world.  If you feel the glass is half full you must look for media and people who share your optimism. You will also be creating your own world. A world where new opportunity is possible and you can make it happen.

It is also important to vote for people who can find opportunity in change.

If  Change Skill University existed its motto might be:

Forget the way it should be, prepare for the way it could be as it probably already is.

There is an old business expression, banks only give money to those who do not appear to need it. Put another way success attracts success.

As a recession deepens clothes wear out while funds are stretched to the breaking point.

A few thoughts on:

A Wardrobe That Works

Change shopping from a sport or therapy to a carefully planned business skill.

A bargain is not a bargain if you do not need it.

Make a list of what you need for this season; write it on a “credit card” sized piece of paper and put it in your wallet. When tempted take out the “credit card” and tell yourself that if you give in to a bargain something vital will have to be left out.

Remain Neutral

Purchase all large items in neutral tones as they are less memorable. Change the look with touches of the current fashion in the least expensive items. Boring you say? You are working on a business image not a public staement of your inner diva.

Shop at charity shops in expensive areas. You will be amazed at what you will find for little money. Search out “Redesign” stores where the still well off take their clothes after a few wearings.

Buy the best quality you can. Fine fabrics stand up to repeated wearings. A fine suit will speak on your behalf when you are tongue tied.

Keep your shoes in good repair.

As an alternative shop in teen and young adult stores (where your colleagues would never dream of shopping). You can find very well styled suits for much less. An old modelling trick is to buy an inexpensive outfit, remove the cheap buttons and replace them with beautiful buttons either newly bought or cut from an old suit.

With a Little Help From Your Friends

If you are interviewed for a choice position these days you may be facing a number of interviews with the same people. What to wear? Look for a friend, your size, with a good wardrobe. Try on outfits in advance and put your friend on standby.

Bargain Grooming

Makeup is sold in a wide range of prices. A high price tag does not necessarily mean you are getting the best. A lower price tag may give you a very good product. Shop beyond your habits.

A good hair cut is worth the money. It will last longer retaining its shape as it grows out. Consider a cut from a local haircutting school if price is the big factor at the moment.

Attitude

Your attitude as reflected in your posture and words pulls the image together. Positive but not arrogant. People’s tolerence for Bull Droppings goes way down in tough times. You are direct,empathetic and very reliable.

Please gentleman never say “I have a lot of irons in the fire”. That is known to mean nothing is happening. The only variation that I enjoyed was a new client who told me “I have a lot of balls in the air and 2 of them are mine”. Desperation with honesty and gusto!

30 Seconds

It is said that interviewers form an opinion of you in 30 seconds. All they know in that time is what they see.

Create a wardrobe that works for you.

We would like to believe that we are not judged by our appearance: but we are. And we are judged quickly. Studies indicate that interviewers form an opinion of you in 30 seconds; an opinion that is difficult to change.

If a recession keeps going our working wardrobes begin to wear out and it is hard to find the money to refresh your image. A few thoughts on-

Image and Opportunity

Change your attitude about shopping and make it a career skill buying only what you need.

This is not as easy as it sounds as we tend to shop as a sport, as a social activity, as therapy or as a response to boredom. We cannot afford to indulge ourselves as shopaholics in a recession.

Begin by-

Taking out everything that you have for the fall/winter season. Make a list of the pieces that are missing.

Write the list on a credit card sized piece of paper and put it in your wallet. The idea is to only buy what is on the list.

A bargain is not a bargain if you do not need it.

If larger pieces are needed, like a suit, buy very neutral colors as they are not remembered as easily. You may face several interviews at the same company. If you have a neutral suit of good quality the look can be changed by a different shirt,tie, scarf etc.

Should you have the latest fashion? A touch to show you are aware and up to the minute but keep fashion to the least expensive items. Keep in mind that fad and fashion are different. A fashion may last through a few seasons but a fad has a fashion span of weeks or months. You can google the european fashion collections to see what is going to be in style next season.

If conservative is not you remember that this is a career uniform not an expression of your inner diva.

There are usually lots of sales in a recession. Buy the best quality you can. Better fabrics last and take alterations more successfully.

Wear good shoes in perfect condition.

An old modeling trick is to buy an inexpensive outfit and put very expensive buttons on it. Instant upgrade.

Check your area for second hand design stores. Not everyone is hit by bad times. Many still buy excellent clothes, wear them once and take them to second hand stores.

If you have friends who are your size and have a good wardrobe try on what they have so if a second interview outfit is needed you just rush over and pick it up.

Many women feel more confident when they use very expensive personal care and makeup products but in reality there is not that much difference between high end and middle range except the price. Many are made in the same facility. You can save many dollars by switching brands.

However, a good haircut is worth the difference in price. It will look better much longer and that may actually make it less expensive.

A designed business card is a must. Never use an old card with your new number added in pen!

Wizard Graphics at www.wgiprint.com has some great specials.

They are are very efficient, professional, pleasant and cheap!

The most important part of the well crafted look is your attitude. Sell the image!

For Employees – Stepping off the Corporate Ladder

In the last recession a common statement I heard from downsized employees was- “I am worth $200,000.00 a year.”

A statement of defiance, denial and pain.

It often lead to disaster a few months later .

They would not go to any job interviews as what was being offered was beneath their salary level or-

If they had a generous severance package many bought a franchise. Why was this a mistake?

Lets look at the thinking behind the I am worth statement.

You are not worth $200,000.00. The job you had paid that amount. After you leave you will find out what you are worth. At the corporation you had their structure, a staff and a department; all a big part of your success. Now you have you.

If you have based your sense of self worth on your salary level you are going to face extra difficulties.

If you buy a franchise with the “I am worth” mind and ego set you have a disaster in the making. Brilliance in one field does not give you a brilliance carte blanche for all fields.

Managing your staff from a corner office is corporate power and status. When you are starting a new business you must be both President and Custodian. Corner office approaches made many financial parachutes fail to open.

For Entrepreneurs – That’s Not What I Do

Entrepreneurs have every reason in the world to take pride in their in their accomplishments but-When I look back on the last recession I realize that many who did not make it were very similar. They would not shift their approach to fit a new situation and they tended to be companies that had one clear cut service, no secondary markets.

An example- a friend owned a temp secretarial service agency. She was very successful. When companies had to tighten their belts they did not hire temps very often. At the same time the computer had arrived on the business horizon. I suggested that she switch to temp computer people, be leading edge, catch all the limited opportunities out there. She responded

“That’s not what I do”.

Things were so bad she was not really doing what she used to do. Weeks later I pointed out that her competitor had a large article (free publicity) in the daily paper promoting their new computer skilled temps.

Her response – you can guess.

She soon lost everything. Her competitor thrived.

A GPS for Your Life

Recession survival may not require a complete re training or starting over again just a fine tuning.

Sort of a GPS for your life-where am I now, where do I need to go and what is the best route to get there.