In Public Relations, Looks Aren't Everything (But They Sure Can Help)

Many movies hing on a simple wardrobe change as a transformation experience for a character. From My Fair Lady to The Devil Wears Prada, pop culture points to the impact of appearance. Public relations is an image business and how you look is as much your calling card as the one in your wallet.

Everything about how you look, your haircut to your shoe choice, speaks volumes about who you are and where you're going, whether you are consciously trying to communicate that or not. Usually, the safest way to dress is to stick with simple, understated clothing. Men should invest in a gray or black, light wool, two-button suit. For women, keep color, accessories and skin to a minimum. Basic shapes such as a wrap dress or a tie-neck blouse paired with a pencil skirt are sure to impress. Otherwise, a black suit is safe and professional way to dress for your business meeting. It doesn't have to be an exact match- there is no reason why you can't buy a nice blazer and wear it with a pair of chic pants that you already have in your closet. When in doubt, guys (if not on a job interview or uber-formal setting) should wear dressy khaki pants, a blue, crisp, button-down shirt and a good-looking tie. Bring a navy blazer. You can always ditch it at the last minute if no one else is sporting one.

Start by shopping your closet. Buy the basics and then add affordable, amazing pieces to mix in match with. There are tons of affordable choices ranging from online flash sale sites to designed collaborations with big box retailers including pick up some basic wardrobe building blocks. Consignment stops are great for accessories too. A good handbag can make a powerful punch in the style department.

In PR, looking the part is key to being able to communicate effectively to your audience. Consider your client, their expectations, the setting of the meeting and the purpose. This even matters when you're looking for a job. During an interview, you're evaluated not only for what you have to say, but what you're wearing.

Whether you are trying to land a job somewhere full time or freelancing, remember that companies will hire and promote people who help put their best foot forward in every scenario. No matter what you're doing, you are, in essence, the face of the company, so it's vital to pay attention to your style.

The Day Has Come, Companies are Finally Giving Something Back to Employees

For the last three years during the 'Great Recession' employees have felt nervous to ask for more from their employers, worrying that their jobs were at stake. But, the day has finally arrived that companies are giving back to hard workers.

Economic analysts say that often when the market resets, some companies' high-potential employees will start looking or new opportunities because they hung in their during tough times and want a fresh start. In order to survive, many companies have cut all of the perks they used to give - pay raises, flexible hours, even free coffee - but more businesses are realizing that if they want to hold on to their best employees they need to give them back the things they enjoy.

FedEx, the St. Paul Hotel, Ford Motor Co., Winnebago and the McKnight Foundation are among many of the companies starting to restore their perks. This is because many of their competitors are sniffing for talent. Another main reason companies are bringing back lost perks is because it's expensive to replace works and in the next decade many of the baby boomer generation will be retiring already.

As the economy recovers, employers are bringing back the goodies. Some are conducting employee surveys, hiring humorists or just bringing back the coffee and cookies that have disappeared. Here are other examples:

Aveda is lifting its ban on employee travel

FedEx and MPR are reinstating 401(K) and 403 (b) matches.

Ford Motor Co., which was thought to be closing soon, actually saw a raise in sales this last year and plans to hire 7,000 U.S. employees

The St. Paul Hotel has said that business has picked back up and they are restoring most of its 275 hourly works to full-time status. Also, they are breaking out the brownies, cookies and popcorn to revive its all-employee meetings

3M Co. froze wages in 2009, but now has reinstated merit pay last year.

Cambria Inc. rehired about 70 laid-off factory workers last year.

The Marsh fitness club in Minnetonka held its first staff party January 7th after a three-year hiatus.

Besides the fun job perks bring, they provide a lot more - employee satisfaction, and when you happy employees they are going to want to stay and create a happy company.

More optimism is buzzing than ever since 2007 and companies see that now that they can afford some perks, they need to give them, especially since turnover costs a lot more. I think is only going to get better from here.

Holiday Hours Extended to 24 Hours... Is It Worth It?

Over the month of December some stores have been in "we never close" mode. Target and Wal-Mart having been staying open until midnight and Toys 'R' Us and Macy's have been keeping the lights on all night for holiday shopping procrastinators.

For the first time ever, Toys 'R' Us will stay open 24 hours a day from now until Christmas Eve, when the doors will shut at 10p.m. They retailer's five temporary Toys 'R' Us "Express" stores in the Twin Cities and its Babies 'R' Us are not included in the frenzy.

The Macy's at Rosedale Center is one of a dozen of the chain's stores across the country to go 24 hours. It's the second year the store in Roseville has offered marathon shopping. Although Macy's won't share its sales numbers for the 83 hours of selling marathon, Macy's store manager at Rosedale, said the overnight blitz attracts hundreds of customers from around the area each night.

Sure, there are a few procrastinators, but mostly these people are people who have different lifestyles and different work schedules. When you shop at 2 in the morning, there's really a need. There are a ton of individuals in their working uniforms, third-shift workers, husbands and wives who work opposite schedules and come in when someone can watch their children. And then there are groups of women who went to a late show and came shopping after wards.

So, is it worth it? Retailers say staying open the extra hours are worth it. Experts say only two costs go up with the 24-hour concept: labor and utilities. If merchants can grab extra sales on the graveyard shift, it may be worth it. However, workers say different. They are just feeling more burned out leading up the holiday.

There are More Unmarried Couples Living Together than Ever Before, Why? Is it the Recession or just a New Social Norm?

Recently, more and more young couples are living together and not getting married and the reason being seen as is the economic downturn. Further, this number is rising faster here in Minnesota, but why?

New U.S. Census estimates show the number of unmarried couples living together has spiked nationally during the recent recession and rose even faster in Minnesota. Demographers believe the increase is couples delaying marriage because of the cost, avoiding marriage altogether or moving in without a long-term plan because of short term financial pressures. While cohabitation has increased over the last 30 years, the recent uptick has surprised most experts. The Current Population Survey showed an increase nationally from 6.7 million unmarried couples living together in 2009 to 7.5 million couples in 2010. That's a huge jump!

The reason for this increase is unclear. Joblessness might be one of the reasons why couples say 'ok, do we really need two addresses?' It was determined that couples who recently moved in together were less likely to have jobs than couples who lived together more than a year. Beyond economics, a major reason for more cohabitation is couples who have children, but don't get married. Many couples today just see moving in together as a natural extension of dating. First, you have a toothbrush, and then maybe some clothes, and then eventually it doesn't make sense to pay rent on two apartments.

It's unclear why cohabitation is rising faster in Minnesota. The state has more married couples living together fewer divorces and separations, and fewer multiple-generation households. Who knows, this could create a new social norm in which unmarried couples also want to live together if it hasn't already.

The negative stigma surrounding unmarried couples living together has lessened in the last three decades, but hasn't disappeared. The old "living in sin" idea has changed since the time when landlords would deny apartments to unmarried couples, but instead today some couples find it a challenge to find a church to perform their wedding ceremony unless they first get legally married or agree to move apart. It is common for most unmarried couples living together to split up or get married within two years. It's been concluded that only 14 percent of couples are unmarried live together after five years.

Really, there are pros and cons to living together before marriage, the debate is still on. Time will only tell if this pattern becomes the norm and if it improves the stats of divorce. It's an interesting situation. Why do you think this is happening and what do you think the future will be for unmarried couples who have decided to try living together?

More Women Bring in the Big Bucks

It was recently reported that nationwide the number of women with six-figure incomes is rising at a much faster pace than for men.

About one in 18 women who work full-time earned $100,000 or more in 2009. This is a jump of 14 percent over two years ago according to the recent census results. In contrast, one in seven men made that much, up just four percent.

The swelling ranks of well-paid women workers are largely attributable to almost three decades of growth in the umber of women with the academic credentials to land good jobs. Women now outnumber men at almost every level of higher education, which three women attending college and graduate school for every two men. They get more master's degrees and more PhDs. Most law school students are women, as are almost half of all medical students.

However, women's advocates and groups representing professional women cautioned that a wage gap between the sexes remains stubbornly persistent and women are sparsely represented at the upper echelons of business. Just three percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.

The gains that women continue to make in the workplace have come amid the worst recession in decades - a downturn that has been particularly harsh for men. Median pay and hours worked fell twice as much for men as for women. The share of workers earning $50,000 and up was flat for men but rose by five percent for women.

Those figures represent an economy in which manufacturing and construction, with more male workers than women, id declining while jobs requiring the higher education at which women excel have increased

The full-time workforce remains predominantly male, with 56 million men and 42 million women. Only a relatively small segment of either sex has passed the $100,000 benchmark - about 2.4 million working women and 7. million men earn that much. But, some analysts believe that the gap between men and women who are earning more than $100.000 will narrow further, at least for one group.

A report earlier this year from a consumer marketing firm found that unmarried women in their 20s who are childless and work in cities have caught up with or are ahead of young men living in all but a handful of the nation's largest metropolitan regions.

Finding Work-Life Balance

I believe a good work-life balance is essential to living a happy life. How to you achieve yours?

Employees at Briargate Trading, a New York trading firm, work super hard around the stock market's 9:30 AM opening and 4 PM closing, but the rest of the day, as most other finance works are hunched over their desks, works head to the movies, play tennis in Central park, take leisurely lunches, visit their kid's schools or work out.

Here's something to think about, when are you intense periods at work and when are your lulls? Would you like a job where you worked really hard for a set time, but then could relax? Or would you rather just work steadily, but less intensely, throughout the day? If you could concoct your ideal work schedule what would it be?

If you're feeling a little over worked and need to get your work-life balance back, here are 10 tips:

1. Negotiate a change with your current employer. Progressive employers recognize the value of good employees, and many are willing to find ways to help current employees deal with short-term or permanent changes caused by family situations. The change can include flextime, job-sharing, telecommuting, or part-time employment. First, research your employer's policies and methods of handling previous requests. Then go to your boss with the information and a plan that shows how you will be an even more valuable and productive employee if you can modify your current work situation.
2. Find a new career. Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming that others. If you need more time for yourself or your family, now may be the time to explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible.
3. Find a new job. Rather than a career change, perhaps you just need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. This change may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position, it may involve a full job-search, or it may involve temping or becoming a consultant or starting a freelancing or other home-based business.
4. Slow down. Life is simply too short, so don't let things pass you in a blur. Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. Schedule more time between meetings; don't make plans for every evening or weekend, and find some ways to distance yourself form the things that are causing you the most stress.
5. Learn to better manage your time and avoid procrastination. For many, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized, and procrastinating. Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines, and then stick to them. You'll find that not only are you less stressed, but your work will be better.
6. Share the load. Even though we may sometimes feel we're the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. Get your partner or other family member to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the house or family should not be the responsibility of just one person.
7. Let things go; don't sweat the small stuff. It's simpler said than done, but learn to let things go once and awhile. Don't always worry about the dishes not getting washed each day or that the house doesn't get vacuumed every week. Learn to recognize the things that don't really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go. Then don't beat yourself up for doing so.
8. Explore your options. If you're feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities, get help if you can afford it. In many cases, you have options, but you need to take the time to find them.
9. Take charge and set priorities. Sometimes it's easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done. You need to buck the trend, develop a list, set priorities and enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off your list.
10. Simplify. It seems human nature for about everything to take on too many tasks, to try to do too much, and to own too much. Find a way to simplify your life. Change your lifestyles. Learn to say no to requests for help. Get rid of the clutter and baggage in your house and your life.

Hazardous Resumes

The job market is still rough and there are many out there still struggling to find work; since it has been reported that there are more inaccuracies in resumes. It has long been the case that job seekers buffer their resumes to make themselves look like a stronger, but recently more candidates are downplaying their work histories instead of exaggerating so that they won't appear overqualified for a job.

You may think that the highest group of unemployed people are young professionals and recent college grads. However, it's been said that the greatest number of those looking for work are those who are middle age and have been laid off. This is why some experts say 'dis-embellishment' is happening. This group of individuals have the experience, but can't find jobs to meet their years of work. Typically, this group needs a steady income somehow to pay for things such as their houses, kids, food, etc, so they are willing to take almost any job that, even one that requires much less experience.

Advice: Bottom line is tell the truth. Any work of fiction on either end poses for risk. Further, if any hirer does some research, they can find out the truth themselves.

Tips to Help You Make a Great Impression on Your First Day at a New Job

I'm starting a new job on Monday and I'm very excited. However, with every new beginning, you need to leave your comfort zone and be prepared to be the new kid on the block for awhile. Here are some tips I recommend to anyone starting a new opportunity.

• Ask questions. You're new and it's better to do something right the first time around than have to do it over.
• Take notes. Unless you have a photographic memory, take notes. You'll want to all the systems rules and organization policies.
• Discover everything you can about your new employer. In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always more to learn now that your are going to be on the inside.
• Listen more than talk. Don't always act like a know-it-all right off the bat. The idea is to communicate that you have some very marketable skills and you are here to learn and apply your skills to help the organization achieve success.
• Smile a lot and be friendly. Get to know your co-workers and what their interests are.
• Dress professional/blend in and blend in with your co-workers. You should never underestimate the importance of dressing professionally in your new job, and in the beginning, even if your department has casual days, you should dress professionally because you never known when you'll be called out to meet a top manager or key client.
• Learn about your co-workers. No one expects you to have every one's name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some of the neat memory-aid tricks you can try to use. Also, use your lunch hours to get together with your current co-workers.
• Show your team spirit. You are now part of a work team, and teams work together to solve problems and get the job done. Show loyalty to your co-workers and focus more, initially at least, on sharing any recognition you get with the team. Always give credit to the team.
• Show appreciation. Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. So, show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during the first days on the job.
• Figure out who has the authority to give you work to do and who is just trying to have you do theirs.
• Pay attention to the 'grapevine,' but don't contribute to it. You don't want to gain a reputation as a gossip monger.
• Don't complain about your boss, your office mate, any co-workers, or your previous job.
• Keep personal business on company time to a minimum. Studies show that just about everyone conducts some amount of personal business on company time, checking email, making dinner reservations, buying stuff online. Try your best to just focus on work.
• Continue to arrive early and don't rush out the door at the end of the day.
• Volunteer for projects that will help you get noticed, but don't neglect any assigned work.
• Track accomplishments. No one else will do it for you. Track them for if nothing else but your personal satisfaction, for raise and promotion meetings, and for future job-hunting.
• Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Your life has changed and it will take getting used to.

Being the newest member of the organization, the rookie, is both challenging and exciting. You'll be faced with both difficulties and opportunities, and your goal should be to make the most of all situations. These tips should help provide you with some insights and direction as you approach that new job, but don't worry if you don't make a perfect impression in those early days on the job. Few of us ever do. Remember to relax, keep your mind open, get to know your team members, be yourself and do your work, and you should go far in making a lasting impression and reputation.

If You're Going To Quit Your Job, Don't Jump Off A Plane, Quit With Class

People have been buzzing over the epic departure of JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater, who quit his job in a dramatic fashion often reserved for movies and daydreams; just after this flight landed in New York City, he unleashed an expletive-laden tirade over the plane's public address system. He then deployed the inflatable emergency-exit ramp and left for his home in Queens, where he was promptly arrested. (However, I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the late night TV shows in the near future with all the publicity and fame he's getting for this incident.)

With economic recover still stalled, quitting any job requires some serious intestinal fortitude, but the sheer audacity of Slater's departure from his job might serve as a shining example of those tired of being abused or misused in the workplace. However, simply swearing your way out of the office lacks a certain je ne sais quoi.

Here are some ways to quit your job with class:

1. Keep Your Remarks Short: Don't rant your frustrations with the job. Just say what you need to and get out.

2. Make Your Reasons For Leaving Clear: Give your box something to think about so they don't drive away another valuable employee in the future. Whatever it is that is making you quit, be clear about it.

3. Have A Plan: If you're going to quit, at least know what's coming next.

4. Make An Impression: No swearing, no tantrums, no throwing stuff. If you leave respectfully and calmly, this will make a greater impression than lashing out.

5. Get Closure: If there's a way to make your departure more real in your mind, make it so. Don't dwell on your decisions. You're gone; now move on.

About the picture: This is a picture from Steven Slater's MySpace, a flight attendant for Jet Blue Airways Corp., looked pleased and relieved after cursing out a passenger on an airplane public-address system, grabbing some beer from the galley and using an emergency slide to hop off another passenger said Tuesday, August 10th. Steven Slater lost his temper after a passenger accidentally hit him on the head with luggage on the ground at Kennedy Airport on Monday police said.

Better Work Environment = Better Employee Satisfaction

An employee's work environment plays a LARGE role in employee satisfaction. If going to work included casual dress, flexible hours, bringing your pet and playing video games while gathering for drinks and snacks on Friday afternoons, would you mind coming to work five days a week? I don't think so.

Of course there is a difference between professional time and playtime, but I think a company should provide perks when possible. The more you consider your employees feelings and wants, the better work they'll do for you and your cause. Makes sense, but the word 'fun' is often forgotten by management.

When a company creates an environment where employees want to hang out, they will work longer hours and will produce better results. A happy, engaged employee = better work turnaround.

If you're in management, think about how you can implement fun into your workplace. Start by considering your company's mission and see if your mission to customers also considers your employees. If it doesn't you have a problem. If you start to stream your mission throughout the workplace, the more your employees will 'live' your brand and mission. Further, the more they will 'enjoy' being at work and doing their work.

Check out the places that have gotten it right by looking the Best Places to Work for 2010 released by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Minnesotans Rate Best in Volunteering

A new national study confirmed that the Twin Cities residents volunteer more of their time to their churches, charities and school than folks in any other metro area in the nation.

More than 900,000 Twin Cities residents, in the city and suburb, volunteered an average of 44 hours a year in 2009, according to the annual report by the federal agency overseeing national service programs. The rest of the state of Minnesota isn't lacking either. More than 1.5 million people volunteered in 2009, the third-highest ranking in the nation.

I think that Minnesota has a couple of things that push it to the top of these rankings. First, we have our "Minnesota nice" personalities. Regardless of the rude person you came across on your way to work today, generally the opinion across the nation of Minnesota people is that we're nice and care about one another and second, we have a strong nonprofit sector funnels volunteer energy.

For years, Minnesotans have ranked near the top nationally on volunteerism, voting and other forms of civic engagement." In fact, the Twin Cities area has topped this same survey for the past four years. The latest study showed that statewide, 1.5 million people volunteered their time, to the tune of 171 million hours last year.

The report showed that 37 percent of Twin Cities residents and those outstate volunteered in 2009. That civic spirit crossed all age groups, from seniors to 20-somethings. Baby boomers were particularly energetic: 40 percent reported volunteering in their communities.

Nationally, volunteerism is on the rise, said the report. More than 63 million Americans over the age of 16 volunteered at least once in 2009, an increase of 1.6 million. This could be because of the high unemployment, people are trying to fill their time while they're looking for work and want to try and help while they have the time.

The increase was fueled by higher volunteer rates among women, especially those age 45 to 54, as well as Americans who were working.

Minnesotans donate their time for many causes, but the top four are projects involving food for the disadvantaged, fundraising, teaching and "general labor," the report said. Roughly a third do their volunteer work at religious organizations and/or schools.

To see the full report, Volunteering in America, go to http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/.

Use Facebook Ads to Make Employers Hunt You Down

If you pay attention to the news, you may think that anyone looking for a job should immediately cancel his or her Facebook account and never sign up again. Headlines read: Bank Intern Busted by Facebook, Employers Look to Facebook Too and Employers Snoop on Facebook. There's rarely anything new in the stories, but somehow they continue to pop up. More and more companies are using Facebook as a recruiting tool, but for the most part any press that has included the words "employer" and "Facebook" has been negative. Not anymore.

When you sign on your Facebook account, you may notice an ad on the right side of the screen. Facebook allows you to target your ads very specifically. More than ever, employers are trying to leverage Facebook to find great entry-level talent, but not many are doing a good job.

An organization called One Day, One Job came up with an idea, what if you reverse the role and have the employee target the company her or she wants to work for with Facebook ads? Basically, they wanted college grads to create an ad for themselves. The goal was to sell yourself with a picture and a few short sentences which would convince any recruiter seeing their ad to click through to their resume, web page, contact information, etc. Most importantly they needed a target. This target would be based keywords, location or company. Targeting by the company is the most likely to succeed, because they could guarantee that they would actually reach people who work at companies that might consider hiring them. How they target would depend on what kinds of jobs they were looking for. Yes, this process does cost some money, but overall when looking at its success rate, it's pretty cheap.

To learn more about this idea and how to set up your own Facebook ad click here.

Minnesota Nurses Negotiations: The Importance of Good Communication from Both Sides during a Strike

The 12,000 nurses that represent the Minnesota Nurses Association at 14 Twin Cities hospitals are threatening to walk out June 10 unless talks produce an agreement about pay increases of three percent for each of the three years, pension contributions and more flexibility in scheduling. Nurses claim to be stretched to the limit and don't have enough say in staffing levels. This is causing a low nursing morale and stressed out.

In this strike there are spokespersons from both sides stating their side of the disagreement. It's important this is, so that the clearest messages are communicated to one another and the press in hopes of reaching a settlement. I think that both defenders are doing a good job representing their sides' wants.

I side with the Minnesota Nurses Association, but still I can see both sides. The hospitals are struggling just like any other business during this downturn. They don't want to guarantee higher wages and pensions and other benefits if revenue is not growing. Also, hospitals want to be able to move nurses around hospital units depending on census numbers, even if a nurse is unfamiliar with their new surrounding and may not work as efficient.

Hospitals are an important part of society and nurses are a big piece of their operation. Patients are nervous that their care will be affected by the strike and hospitals are trying to prepare. Hospital communicators are making it clear that the strike will not affect their patient's care, which is vital. There is hope that the strike can be averted all together before 10 arrives.

Affected hospitals: Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, Unity, United and Phillips Eye Institute (all owned by Allina Hospitals and Clinics), St. John's, St. Joseph's and Bethesda (owned by HealthEast Care System), North Memorial, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Park Nicollet Methodist, Fairview Southdale and the Riverside campus of University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

Would you Brand Yourself with your Company Logo?

Most companies prefer staffers to not have any tattoos visible, but at some work places tattoos are being used for branding purposes.

At Anytime Fitness, one employee got the health club chain's purple running man logo tattooed on her upper left arm. She is just one of the more than 200 other employees among the company's nearly 1,300 clubs worldwide who have undergone the needle in the name of Anytime enthusiasm over the past several years. At least 20 of them work at the headquarters in Hastings, Minnesota.

"We bleed purple here at corporate," said CEO Chuck Runyon.

Many times at annual conferences, a tattoo artist is on hand to oblige employees who are feeling particularly dedicated.

While it's common for businesses to hand out temporary tattoos of their logos, this is taking products branding to a very personal, and some may extreme, level.

Birth Control Pill Turns 50: The Drastic Ways it has Progressed Women

Ironically, the 50th anniversary of birth control pills landed on Mother's Day, May 9th. The pill has completely changed women's reproductive lives and in doing so affected many other aspects. Since, I believe it's important to talk about. Previous generations of women had larger families, typically five or more kids. Today, families usually have one or two. Further, more babies today are born to women over 35 than to teenagers. This shows that the pill has taken great effect.

The pill has increased a woman's earning potential. By enabling women to delay childbearing, the pill appears to have made women more financially secure. The reason is fairly obvious. Women who get their careers going before having kids are more likely to get the education and work experience needed to get and keep better-paid positions, even if they later take time off to raise kids.

The pill made infertility into an epidemic. Oral contraceptives don't cause infertility; ovulation usually resumes within a month or two after going off the pill. However, the trend toward shifting reproduction from a woman's early 20s (when she's most fertile) to her late 30s or early 40s (when fertility is on the wane) has dramatically increased since the pill became widespread, to the extent that 20 percent of couples contend with the issue.

The pill alleviated many menstrual problems. The pill helps many menstrual cycle problems, like sever cramps, migraines, and excessive bleeding. That's because the pill's withdrawal bleed is actually a fake period, much lighter and fueled by a smaller hormonal dip than normal periods triggered by the ovulation cycle. Pill users actually tend to have less trouble with endometriosis, and they have lower rates of ovarian cancer. However, the risk of blood clots and strokes increase with use of the pill, especially for those who smoke.

The pill opened the door for other hormonal birth control options. Hormonal contraceptives have come a long way in the past 50 years, even the pill today is hardly recognizable to a pharmacist from 1960. The doses of estrogen have declined and the synthetic progesterone component has also changed. Now, there are even pill options that aren't required to be taken daily: patches, vaginal rings, shots and more.

The pill lowered likelihood of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. When used right, the pill's effectiveness rate is about 99 percent. That's far better than older barrier methods. This has eliminated many surprises by allowing women to plan their lives a lot better and be much more prepared for a bundle a joy.

The pill altered women's sex drives and sex lives. Some say that the pill and other hormonal contraceptives quash a woman's natural sexual urges by lowering levels of the 'libido' hormone, testosterone. But, that has never been proven. Some say the opposite. However, the pill is credited for ushering in the secular revolution of the 60s. Without fear of pregnancy, women may have been more ' in the mood.'

The pill inspired the idea for a male pill. Lately, there has been a lot of emphasis on the creation of a male pill. There may be a pill someday, but at this point nothing has made it beyond clinical trials.

What makes someone a great PR or marketing professional?

I'm a little bias, but regardless of the expense, I think that businesses and organizations need PR and marketing professionals. I hate that this is usually the first area to get cut during a downturn because it truly is needed to succeed in business. I mean really think about it, can you afford not to reach your audience? I think the biggest reason for this is that it's hard to tell this areas true value to the company.

Good PR people will do more than just publicize a company/organization or event if they are good. Every firm has something to market and this needs communication that sells at every customer touch point.

What great public relations people will do:

• Great PR strategists will help fill the gaps between advertising messages and editorial content. Many of these opportunities will be outside traditional media or not in the media at all. Today this will most certainly include a track record in social media, but also in old standby tactics such as events and other audience-engaging initiatives.
• Another factor that underlies a successful marketing and PR person is the ability to tread the fine line between generating messages that sell with language appropriate to non-advertising channels without lapsing into harder-hitting "ad" language. Potential buyers accept the direct sell in ads, but can be offended by the same language in a place perceived as being less sales-oriented. A good PR person will be someone who can do both.

A Little Appreciation Goes A Long Way

People deeply desire recognition and acknowledgement for what they do. Studies have shown that employees are motivated by praise and appreciation before promotion or bonus.

A word of praise, a personalized email of encouragement or thanks can make all the difference to how people feel about their jobs. These mementos last longer than the pay check and show that someone has valued what they have done. There are some managers and even companies that people love to work for because they are known for having a special way of treating people. These managers and companies recognize that people really are their means of doing exceptional business, and treat them accordingly.

Many employers seem to think that employees are paid to work, so why should they be praised as well. But, if companies do not have a culture of praise and appreciation, it will be reflected in their retention rates.

Here are five ways to incorporate praise and appreciation into your workplace:

1. Encourage a culture of appreciation. Give out positive energy and appreciation of others, and you will find it coming back to you. Start appreciating what other people do at work. Focus on the positives, rather than the negatives. Try thanking other people, and they will begin to appreciate you in return. This works at all levels of the organization. Appreciate your managers and appreciate your direct reports and co-workers. Every one's role is important and if people start to tell each other this, then the effect will be felt throughout the organization.

2. Write a thank you note to someone who has performed well, on paper with ink. During these days of email, a handwritten note will stand out as something special. Use a good quality card and be sincere in what you write. People will keep these cards and too often they are only given when they are leaving the company. Giving this recognition during employment will improve their job happiness and retention rates.

3. Stop the blame and use it as a lesson learned session instead. If companies have a blame culture, then people feel they cannot take risks or try to improve things for fear of censure. Encourage people to contribute and praise them for trying something new. If it works, you will want to use their idea. If it doesn't, then praise them for trying and analyze how it can be done better next time. Don't criticize and blame, but praise and encourage.

4. Use the monthly meeting to award people for a job well done in a public forum. Have an original award and give it to people for going above and beyond their job description. This may relate to a demonstration of company values or for excellence. One example is the First Penguin award used at Carnegie Mellon, which is given for being a risk-taker and being ahead of the pack. It refers to the first penguin that dives into the ocean containing predators, someone fearless and ready for anything. What original award could you start at your workplace?

5. Be aware of what people are doing in the workplace. If someone does a particularly good job, reward them unexpectedly. For exemplar, tell them to have an expensive meal out with their family and put the cost on their expenses. Have a "Special Day Off" award when someone gets to have a day off for free and still get paid. Or get tickets to a sporting event and take a group of employees instead of clients. Make your employees feel that they are worthy of excellent treatment. After all, they are the ones who make the company work.

Praise needs to be genuine, so all of these should be done with sincerity. These points have nothing to do with the institutionalized "praise" of bonuses and organized rewards or commissions. These examples are for unexpected thanks and appreciation of what people do over and above their job descriptions. Reward people for their service and their loyalty and you will find that they give even more.

Equal Pay Day

Saturday, March 20th was Equal Pay Day, signifying how many days into the year it takes for the average woman to catch up in pay to her male counterparts.

In Minnesota, women earn about 72 cents for every $1 earned by men. This discrepancy not only hurts Minnesota families, but also changes the dynamics of the workforce. Equal pay between genders could help both men an women contribute to a stronger economy.

I urge everyone involved to work toward eliminating the pay gaps that are still present in many Minnesota companies. The state could become a leader in equalizing pay standards by meeting this goal.

Speak Up!

This morning in the Star Tribune I read an article on how to build confidence to speak up and share your thoughts in meetings. I thought it was a very interesting article and believe it gives some good advice to professionals who have ideas and opinions they are afraid to share.

In most cases, people are afraid to speak up in public settings because they are still suffering from a bad experience in which they spoke up in the past or do not feel they are qualified to say something in a particular setting.

Ways to Build Confidence in your Voice:

• Notice that ideas are rewarded and set aside dated feelings about what happens to people who speak up
• Think about your company's culture. What responses do people in similar roles receive when they're more outspoken. Is there a hierarchy at play or are your limits self-imposed?
• Set achievable goals. Pick a group you're comfortable with to practice 'speaking up' with. (Giving suggestions to, asking questions, etc.) It may be because they're more familiar, that you have more expertise, or that they're generally gentler.
• Know the agenda. This way you can prepare some possible contributions. Sometimes great ideas come spontaneously, but it can help to have some thoughts ready.
• Prepare yourself. Not your ideas, your body and your attitude. Practice having engaged body language. Sit up and look like a participant in all meetings and conversations. Focus on your voice, learning to project and sound confident. Use your breath to support your voice. Ease your nervousness by visualizing your hoped-for outcome.
• If you feeling your body clenching up in a meeting, take some deep breathes. Remind yourself to believe in your ideas and give them a voice.
• Ask for help. Ask your friends at work or in teams with you for help. Get their feedback and support as you break your habit of timidity.
• Practice outside of work too by joining organizations such as Toastmasters.

HR and Facebook: Companies that use social networking sites to screen applicants could be breaking the law

It's hard for company's HR and hiring managers to weed out applicants during this time of high job applicant numbers and many are using social media sites to cut names, but they may be walking toward thin ice as they follow a national trend of using social media networks to screen potential employees. A recent national study found that employers were impressed by personality, creativity and communications sills found via the Internet. But employers also reject job candidates for inappropriate photo, content relating to drinking or drugs and misrepresentation of skills. However, these businesses could be violating, or close to violating, anti-discrimination laws that have protected workers for decades.

Right now, there are no case law restrictions to the use of social networks like Facebook and MySpace by employers, but there will be. Lawyers say they have already noticed an increase in interest from business clients about the do's and dont's with social media networks, particularly when it comes to hiring. Maybe 2010 will be the year for creating policies to guide the use of social networks for both prospective and existing employees.

In a survey of hiring managers conducted earlier this yer for CareerBuilder.com 45 percent reported using social media in their background checks of prospective employees, up from 22 percent a year ago. Of those 2,600 mangers, 35 percent found something that caused them to not hire the candidate. This type of screening is becoming much more popular, but there is very little legal guidance for people.

Since sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be personal, employers must be cautious that the information they obtain doesn't result in discrimination by race, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation. All are protected classes under law. For instance, employers would be breaking the law if they screened applicants, even before interviewing them, based on racial or ethnic details gleaned from social media sites. Also, employers are asking for trouble in thy reject an applicant who discloses union organizing,smoking r drinking on a social media site. All are lawful activities in the job candidate decision making process.

What you see on a social media site may not be true of the person or it could be dated or a misrepresentation of that person of it could be picture of another person all together. Advisers are telling employers to never use what they find to make hiring decisions based on race, age, or sexual orientation. Also, that employers should include a broad statement in their application process that makes any discovery found online about someone fair game, some statement that says 'we do reference checking, including use of information in pubic domain.'

Social Media Advice from Employers:

• Have a consistent approach in the use of social media for screening job candidates' use it on all candidates for a position or none.
• Do not access social networking sites through deceitful or fraudulent means.
• Create a wall between the ultimate decision maker and the job screener so any legally protected information is not known by the decision maker.
• Consider the validity and accuracy of online data before making a decision.
• Tell all applicants in advance that the employer will be looking at social network sites as part of the review process.

Source: Star Tribune