2009 March

29 03, 2009

Lessons from spring break

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:52:32+00:00March 29, 2009|Uncategorized|2 Comments

It's great to take a break, especially a spring break with your kids. I'm blessed that all four of mine were together this year, for our last family spring break. I say the last, because my oldest is headed to college next year and the breaks don't line up. To say that having him around for 17 spring breaks and then thinking about his impending absence put an added poignancy to this break, would be an understatement. I have found myself sighing a lot more than usual, that's for sure. His future is exciting. The roots we've provided have given him the wings he needs to select a university across the country from home. And that's what parents give their children - roots and wings. In business, it's much the same. We nurture our employees and their dreams, and when they decide to move on, [...]

26 03, 2009

Branding Your Work Space

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:52:35+00:00March 26, 2009|branding, business, home office, work space|Comments Off on Branding Your Work Space

Whether others see your office or not, I always recommend that your office be a reflection of you and your personal brand. It should be comfy, functional and stimulating. If you are a messy person by nature, that’s OK; just don’t let the mess overwhelm you. To begin, have a sense and direction of your personal brand, and then begin thinking how you will translate that into the décor of your room. Use the five senses. Start by painting the walls. Display some of your favorite things on the shelves and walls that surround you. These items will inspire you. And that will make you more productive and energized. Then, work with smell. What would you like your office and brand to smell like? Fresh linen, raspberries, spice? Choose a smell that will stimulate the senses and awaken your imagination. Keep moving through the five [...]

12 03, 2009

My day started with a call from a “private” number . . .

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:52:42+00:00March 12, 2009|banks, fraud, one-way transparency, talk to me, truth|Comments Off on My day started with a call from a “private” number . . .

I almost ignored the call, as I'd just dropped off the kids and hurrying to get ready for work. "Is this K-eye-rah?" asked a deep, male voice. Accustomed to the name-slaughter, telephone soliciter, I almost hung up but answered warily, "Yah." "I'm with Huntington Bank and I'm calling to check a charge billed to your debit card. Can you give me your last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your identity?" Really? Didn't he just call me? I'm a smart alec, so I said: "How do I know you're really Huntington Bank?" He wasn't amused, so I told him my numbers and he told me The Bank is worried about a charge of $7 for Hearst Magazines, a charge made last night. Hmm. I tell him, I love magazines, but I didn't subscribe to any in the middle of the night last [...]

11 03, 2009

Get your Daily Dose of Laughter

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:52:54+00:00March 11, 2009|baby laughing, family, health, kids, stress, work-life balance|Comments Off on Get your Daily Dose of Laughter

As a mother of four and full-time business woman, I understand the pressures moms face. Unfortunately, many women have accepted that stress has become part of their daily lives and are finding it harder and harder to relax. Prolonged and increased levels of stress not only affect our home lives, they also affect our health. Our bodies are well adapted to dealing with short-term stress, but prolonged stress can cause serious health problems. Your stress levels can affect your nervous, respiratory, reproductive and immune systems. To help reduce your stress and make life more enjoyable for everyone in your home, I recommend laughter. We all can benefit from a healthy daily dose. Research shows that laughter reduces the level of stress hormones, stimulates the immune system and helps you connect with others. What a perk! Best of all, if you have kids, they should keep [...]

6 03, 2009

Share the Spotlight

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:03+00:00March 6, 2009|business, leadership, meetings, sharing, team|Comments Off on Share the Spotlight

I was recently at a company meeting and realized only the department heads took center stage. They covered a lot of great info, but it got boring. Face it: People just stop listening after so many PowerPoint slides. It would've been so much nicer to see some new faces. All of their team members were in the back, and only one leader gave a shout-out to her team. Whether you're having a sales rally or a client meeting, make sure to include your team. They work hard for you, so share the spotlight. It will break up the monotony of the formal presentation and introduce your audience to other key players who make your business go round while building camaraderie. With employees, it's the little things that count. The small gesture of inviting them to the stage or saying “thank you for all you do” [...]

4 03, 2009

The time is now, start your own business today!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:11+00:00March 4, 2009|dreams, entrepreneurs, passions, personal brand, starting a business, women|1 Comment

It’s never too late to start your own business! Whether you are 28 or 72, if you are passionate about business, you will succeed. As the baby boomer generation grows older, it is more common to see that those approaching retiring age are not emotionally ready to do so. Every 60 seconds, a woman starts a business, and a large percentage of those women are over the age of 50. Many of these women have a productive career behind them, years of knowledge packed away and still dream of running their own business. And there are not limitations on making your dreams come true. I tell people all the time that it’s never too early or too late to create their personal brand. Everything you’ve done up to this point has prepared you for entrepreneurship, and you are uniquely qualified to make your dreams and [...]

3 03, 2009

When it’s time to say good bye

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:20+00:00March 3, 2009|jobs, moving on, personal brand, quitting, roots and wings|Comments Off on When it’s time to say good bye

You work hard. You create an unstoppable team. You build your culture, you nurture each other and together you grow. But eventually, almost without exception unless you make her a business partner, some of your most valuable team members will chose to leave, to spread their wings and become business owners themselves or join other companies promising more opportunity. It's the type of entrepreneurial spirit you hope to foster in your company, and model for those around you. But it still makes you just as sad when a treasured team member tells you she's taking the plunge. Trust me. I know. It happened again yesterday morning. On top of the fact that it was Monday morning, and five degrees outside, as soon as she walked in my door, I knew what was coming and it wouldn't be good for me. But it's great news for [...]

2 03, 2009

A mother’s work is never done. Just remember to slow down.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:28+00:00March 2, 2009|family, kids, Oprah, Overwhelmed, overworked, priorities, supermom, wonder woman, work-life balance|Comments Off on A mother’s work is never done. Just remember to slow down.

With endless days filled with meetings, luncheons, doctor’s appointments and kids’ activities,it’s hard to cram everything I do into a 24-hour period. It is no wonder working moms feel overwhelmed. Mothers across the country are reaching out and starting support groups and communities. On an episode of Oprah, An Overwhelmed Mom’s Deadly Mistake, a grieving mother, Brenda Slaby, spoke about her unfortunate accident that she described as her “wake-up call to slow down”. In trying to be everything to everybody, she lost her daughter. Slaby chose to speak out about the tragic event because she wants to share her knowledge with others. She doesn’t want other moms to live through the same tragedy. To hear more about her story, go to Oprah.com. So in order to slow down, don’t go it alone—and ask for help. While it’s easier said than done, if you’re trying to [...]

Monthly Archives: March 2009