The 29th Olympiad, by many counts, has been an incredible success.  We saw a Jamaican sprinter emerge as the "World´s Fastest Man," an American swimmer earn the title "Greatest Olympian Ever," and countless world records fall like dominoes.  Perhaps most impressively, we witnessed China´s bold announcement of its newfound presence on the world stage.

But along with the praise came a barrage of criticism.  The spotlight on China has led to complaints regarding digitally created fireworks, a lip-syncing singing performance, and questionable ethics of Chinese sports academies.  From a broader perspective, human rights abuse and press freedom have been cited numerous times.

Some of these arguments are indeed valid.  But are the Olympics -- a supposed celebration of world cultures, of competitive spirit, of human triumph -- the appropriate venue to vent these concerns?

Why is it that we hear more about the possibility of Chinese female gymnasts being underage than about a swimmer´s act of ultimate sportsmanship when she asked an official to delay a race so her competitor could fix a torn swimsuit?  Why do we seemingly spend more time arguing over the "correct" way to count medals and less time on the imagination-defying performances that won them?

It may be naive to think that sports can someday become truly independent of politics, but my hope is that the Beijing Olympics will be remembered for its glorious moments, not its controversies.

 

In a perfect world we could wear jeans to work, take a few hours for siesta, say what’s really on our mind, and win the lottery.  Unfortunately, we can’t have all of that, but we can have a comfy workplace.  Are you ergonomically correct? 

According to wiki, the most authoritative and accurate information source out there, “ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with designing according to the human needs, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance”.  Well, that’s what wiki said the International Ergonomics Association said.  The field is also called human engineering, and human factors engineering -- I have a friend who went to grad school for this discipline. 

Bottom line, your workplace should promote full comfort for your body so that you can successfully work 90 hours a week and not develop carpal tunnel or a hunchback.  There are companies that sell erg correct office furniture, and you can buy accessories like an erg mouse for your computer.  The ambitious can probably even hire an erg interior designer, I’m sure.

 

Yesterday Bill and Melinda Gates announced the Stand Up campaign which would raise awareness about the education crisis in this country and promote action among parents, communities and leaders to address it. The premise being that our country is lagging behind others in terms of preparing our youth as tomorrow´s leaders in a global marketplace.

As a parent, I have seen first-hand what my painfully high taxes pay for in terms of public education- not much. In DC at least, it seems that those re-appropriated funds which seem to increase every year for public education, never make it to the students. When this happens you have to eventually ask, is this by design? Additionally, there is a stark contrast between my educational experience (at least at the elementary level) and that of my daughter´s- from books to facilities to academic opportunities. I went to an elite private school and the difference between the two worlds is stark.

Interestingly enough, yesterday Oprah had cameras follow students at two schools in the Chicago area; they were both public shools but the difference in resources was vast. It´s not pretty...

I have to ask two questions.

1. Are we okay with returning to the separate but equal school of thought that once pervaded society?
2. What are we going to do to demand that education be made a priority in this country and that our children receive the opportunities of academic achievement that match their potential?

Whether you are a parent or not is no longer the issue. Children are the future leaders of this country and they will not be able to compete with their global counterparts.

Check out www.standup.org or www.edin08.com and demand that education be made a priority in the upcoming election cycle.

 

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 On June 12th of this year, Lehman brothers removed their CFO, Erin Callan and demoted her to another position within the bank. This came on the heels of Morgan Stanley´s move to dismiss Zoe Cruz from her position as co-president. While these decisions were made as a result of the heavy deficits both firms have suffered of late, it does remind me of the disappointing reality that though women have made great strides in the workplace and on Wall Street, there remains an astonishing absence of women from executive Wall Street positions.

Of course, failing to fire someone who is accountable for a firm´s poor financial performance just because she is a woman is not what I, or anybody bothered by the Women on Wall Street gap would advocate. But these recent demotions of two of Wall Street´s most powerful women should allow for some open discussion about why it is that more women are not choosing to work on Wall Street and why it is that once they are there they are failing to rise up the executive ranks in the same numbers as their male colleagues.

I was pleased to find that most buzz surrounding the demotions of Callan and Cruz did not focus on that fact that they were women executives who were losing their jobs but simply that they were executives losing their jobs.

My name is Kathleen Lewis, and I work at DeFranco Real Estate Corp. 

Here at DeFranco Real Esatate, we are very interested in furthering women´s wealth through the use of mortgages as investments.  Some of you may be used to the poor returns on CDs from banks and other similar lending institutions.  By using mortgages as investments, we´re able to give out higher returns (11%) while still offering a product which is attractive to our clientel.  We also offer products which are specifically talored to women looking to cash in on their wealth.

If anyone is interested in pursuing this oppertunity, please contact me at 716-990-3228

 The great thing about being a writer is the opportunity to interview and pick the brains of all kinds of interesting people, including other businesswomen.

Once I interviewed a wonderful woman who ran not one, but two daycare centers and also spent time lobbying local and national government officials to bring attention to the need for quality childcare.

When asked about her tips for success, she had a surprising piece of advice: only put 3 things on your to-do list per day.

Three? I was shocked. How did this busy wife, mother and professional manage to get it all done with a three-item to do list?

Of course she accomplished more than three things on any given day. But the exercise of listing her three very top priorities helped her decide what was really important.

I learned a lot that day and though my to do list sometimes has more than three items, I make certain to  decide what must be done and what can wait for another day.

Jada Bradley is a Washington DC-based writer. You can read more about her writing and adventures at her website and blog.

 

Workingwomen are the masters of making dual use of their time.  If you’re not one of the women who bikes or runs to work, you can get back more of your personal time by working out at work.  Managers are beginning to promote employee health by holding meetings at the gym.  You can just reserve a small workout room with bicycles or gather around and take a walk on the treadmill.  Low impact cardio exercise lends itself to business discussions and maybe even note taking. 

Work workouts provide a refreshing change of scenery and a relaxed environment that can foster creative ideas, and the workouts are even easier to schedule if your job has a fitness center.  Work can cause stress, and stress can lead to illness, but exercise is a proven source of stress relief.  Now, instead of stressing out at weekly team meetings in a conference room, you can stress while you’re cruising on the elliptical.  At least you’re undoing the stress as it happens, right?  Before you know it, your 45 minutes of cardio is complete, work is finished, and home you go.

 

Progressive companies out there now offer reverse mentoring opportunities.  This completely voluntary process is gradually gaining momentum and allows seasoned professionals to seek mentoring from young professionals.  Who wouldn´t subscribe to this great idea? 

Having trouble accessing your company´s facebook account?  The young professional may be able to offer an enthusiastic tip or two, while also providing a fresh eye for company improvements, and a new perspective on your leadership and business operations. 

And, while it´s easy to get caught up in the nostalgia of a daughter-like figure providing mentoring guidance, this relationship can certainly rejuvenate and motivate you.  You´ll begin to re-examine your current working environment and even seek inspirational action items, like using podcasts for company exposure, lunchtime board room yoga, or something...

Young professionals always seek seasoned professionals for guidance and leadership, and it´s nice to see the concept reversed, as young professionals have much to offer also.  What could you offer in reverse mentoring, or what would you like to learn from your young professional mentor?

 

If you haven´t noticed, today is a rare day. February 29th only comes around every four years. Leap Day, as is it known, is granted because of the:

"deplorable untidiness of our solar system. One of our earth years (a complete orbit around the sun) does not take an exact number of whole days (one complete spin of the earth on its axis). In fact, it takes 365.2422 days, give or take.

The leap year was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46BC, to make the calendar tidier. The extra day every fourth year made the average year 365.25 days long." [BBC]

Basically, this day creates a "sync-up" with time and the earth´s rotation. And while that still might be confusing, like the electoral college, super delegates, and the persistently sexist media coverage of the 2008 presidential race...

Anyway, back to this phenomenon of Leap Year and how it relates to workingwomen. As Leap Day is an extra, bonus day, many claim that this should be used as such. A day for cleaning up that over-flowing junk drawer. A day for walking leisurely. A day for napping at 2pm. And according to folklore, it´s also a day for:

"women to be bold and brash and ask a man out on a date, or even for his hand in marriage." [MLive]

But if it´s up to your employer, it´s probably just the same ole´ workday.

In Britain, however, they´ve renamed today: The Green Leap Day. Employers are urged to use February 29th to find ways to improve the environment: cut their carbon footprint, launch environmentally-friendly initiatives, and in the case of the National Trust, give employees the day off to find additional ways to be "green" and support their community.

And so while most us of are sitting at our desk, counting down the hours until the weekend, we might want to follow the lead of our friends across the pond.

• Don´t reach for the Styrofoam cup, use the glass instead.
• Don´t fax over that document, email it instead.
• Don´t drive your car, walk or take public transportation instead. [More tips: Green Guide]

Oh, and be sure to enjoy your Leap Day!

Small business articles from three Business and Professional Women members are featured in Small Biz Survival.
Alva BPW Members Becky McCray, Glenna Mae Hendricks and Jeanne Cole all contribute to the site.
Articles include all types of small business topics, many with a special slant for small town small businesses.

 It’s August, and no matter where you live, I’m sure it’s hot. And no matter how hot it is, I’m pretty sure you’d rather be outside on a beach, than inside on your computer. Oh, lovely, lovely vacation. And although it may be next to impossible to even think about taking off work, as your desk swims in piles of neglected proposals, spreadsheets and post-its, remember that to be productive, you must create some order in your life. Balance is key. If you take the time to plan, you will be able to vacation, not worry about the office in your absence, and additionally, feel refreshed when you’re back. Take some advice from FCW.com (Federal Computer Week) on how to prepare for “holiday.” Article: http://www.fcw.com/article103378-08-06-07-Print Unfortunately, though, some American’s can not take advantage of leisure time off. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, (www.cepr.net) the United States is ranked lowest on their list for “generous vacation-giving nations,” as the federal government does not mandate such time off. Workforce.com tells you where to aim your jealousy: the Finns – they have a minimum 30 days guaranteed. Article: http://www.workforce.com/section/quick_takes/50400_1.html Have you had a vacation this summer?