How speaking up changed my financial future

How speaking up changed my financial futureHow speaking up changed my financial futureYou talk. You talk to friends about the drab. To partners about the day-to-day. You call your mama with the big UH OH and your sages about the dream of dreams. It doesnt matter if its vulnerable and it rarely matters if its mundane talking is your way through the process and onto the plan.The ones that love you they always offer honest feedback.The ones who trust you theyre going to open up about their experiences too.The ones who support you theyll give you the space to talk about any and all of it.But are you talking about the things that matter? Are you opening up about the topic thats the fruchtweinsignificant source of stressfor the majority of Americans?Are you talking to anyone about money?I welchesnt.My journey around the money conversation was one that literallyneveroccurred to me until coming across an incredibly human, honesty-driven aktion by Umpqua Bank calledMade to Grow which is a call to talk more about money and the consequences if we dont(read crazy stress).That hadsobeen me. As a young woman building my career in one of the most expensive cities in the US, I thought I was so alone alone in spending most of what I made. alone in my frustration with student loans. alone in the judgement I held for myself in having no retirement plan (yet). alone in having meager emergency savings. alone in feeling like I should most definitely be making more but was scared pantless to ask.So I bottled up every financial concern I had. I kept it in and kept the lid tight. For someone who would sharemostthings if they came up bathroom floor moments, passport agency meltdowns, heartbreak and screw ups I feltwildlyuncomfortable and even embarrassed to talk about money. Partially because at this time in my life I prided myself on having it all together and partially because I didnt know how to talk about it or who to talk about it with. As much as I love my parents and theyr e both killer at talking these things through with, I was too scared to even do that.I had created a self-imposed gag order that was keeping my pride in check. Thats about it.That order lifted, almost instantly, when I heard a small factoid that one of the biggest factors contributing to my ability to negotiate for a higher salary was whether or not I was speaking about it with my friends.Lightbulb.With even my best of friends, I wasnt talking about how much I made, how much their raises were, how their reviews went, or what they negotiated for. That day, though, I began talking about it with my best friends and roommates. Then, I started talking about it with other friends sharing my salary and asking if they were comfortable to share theirs. I remember those firsts vividly, it was like a massive gate moving aside opening the way to so much shared knowledge and support amongst my tribe.Heres what happened after those conversations about salary they turned into broader conversation s about money. We talked about student debt, we talked about our biggest financial mistakes, we supported each other in making our girls night dinner at home instead of the hottest new SF restaurant. We gut checked geschftsleben plans and saving plans. And most of all we learned through our own stories and through our belief in each other about how to shift our relationship with money.I havent been the same since. Speaking up about money with those closest to me pointed a spotlight on my fears. It made them manageable, and it gave me the confidence to shift from a place of fear into a place of prosperity. I started investing in resources that could help my financial future. I made goals for my money. I pushed, sometimes uncomfortably, to be making what I deserved.A little over three years after lifting my own gag order around the topic of finances I found myself in a better place one where I was financially supported enough to take a giant leap of faith to begin my own business and passionately pursue my own dreams. While its an amazing (and scary) step, it presents its own set of financial challenges and fears. But this time around I have the confidence to talk about it and the support system to learn from.People cannot be there for you unless youre first willing to open the conversation and share your worries, your struggles, and your dreams.Speaking up about money changed my future. Its time you let it change yours.This article originally appeared on MaxieMcCoy.com.

Tips for women heading to the executive suite

Tips for women heading to the executive suiteTips for women heading to the executive suiteMy special focus when coaching female leaders is to improve their influence and impact skills - in short, their leadership presence.You might be surprised to find that leadership presence is bedrngnis an attribute automatically assigned to you because of your business results. Nor is it necessarily reflective of your true qualities and potential. Instead, it depends almost entirely on how others perceive you. And that, in turn, depends primarily on how favorably you impress people and how convincingly you deliver your messages, both verbally and non-verbally.To gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to step into a senior executive position, I interviewed the following leadersKathryn Raethel, president and CEO of Adventist Health CastleSuzy Monford, president of quality food center at Kroger CEO and founder of Food Sport InternationalDana Simberkoff, chief risk, security and information Of ficer at AvePointNJ Goldston, editor-in-chief of fashion and lifestyle site The Blonde and The Brunette leading female venture capitalist in numerous businessesNat Sutton, partner and head of non-profit- practice at Buffkin/Baker, an executive recruiting agency that specializes in placing C-suite level executivesHere are five tips they came up with to help you navigate your way to the top1. Assess the current reality.Nat SuttonThere are no easy answers for women who aspire to the highest levels - because the culture of business has been very slow to fully embrace female executives. According to research from Catalyst (an organization that studies women in leadership), at SP 500 organizations, 45% of employees are women, but just 37% of mid-level managers and 27% of senior managers are women.Research also shows that while female executives are much less likely than male executives to become the ultimate boss, they are mora likely than men to do so if they stay on the management path for many years. Currently, however, women are pushed out or leave at every stage along the way.Staying with a company, while building your reputation and skills is an important key to the executive suite today. Listen, learn and be continually curious about what goes on not just in your area, but in operations outside your department and/or division. Cultivate a mentor relationship in the management level directly above you and learn all you can about everything you can. If you cant find a mentor, analyze how the most successful leaders within the organization operate - not only their business skills, but also how they negotiate the organizations culture. Apply what you learn from them to become a more effective leader.Actively investigate possibilities for advancement or change to other disciplines that appeal to you. Then, when you are ready, apply to move to the next level or, perhaps, to a different area of the company.2. Take more risks.Kathryn RaethelWomen have a tendency to be self-limiting - we think we cant do something because we fail to appreciate our abilities. Because of that, were sometimes less willing to take risks, step outside of the box, and pursue an opportunity that presents itself.Whenever a door opens, walk through it if you can - take the risk, dont grow too comfortable where you are. When you have a can-do attitude, people seek you out.I also think the first step to the C-suite is (surprisingly) not aspiring to become an executive. People often aspire to the title, rather than to the journey. Ive found it is more valuable to ask yourself, What job am I going to progress to next? In what ways will I excel? 3. Speak up.NJ GoldstonWomen can fall into the trap of waiting their turn or holding back at meetings. They dont speak up and own their place at the table.Not only should you speak up, but be direct in your speech. Dont add qualifiers that make you seem insecure or powerless Im not sure if youll agree, Im sorry, or Im not sure wha t youll think. Dont apologize. Period. Youre there for a good reason. Own that. Most importantly, be brief and get right to the point. No one wants to listen to long-winded explanations.Suzy MonfordMy greatest leadership skill is my ability to communicate, to tailor and craft messages that resonate with audiences, whether Im in the backroom talking with truck drivers or in a meeting with the executive board. And, by the way, the boardroom is where you need to be the most courageous and forthright- and always speak truth to power.4. Be your best authentic self.Kathryn RaethelI have come to really value the word authentic - people need to see the real you. I believe that when people know you, like you and respect you, they will come with you on the journey.Suzy MonfordTake a deep breath, trust your instincts, and dont over think it. When you trust your instincts, your true self bubbles up in the most authentic way.5. Increase your visibility.Dana SimberkoffIf you want to be evaluated positively for top leadership positions, being a legend in your own mind is not enough. You need to increase your visibility Find ways to ensure that executives in your company are aware of your work and accomplishments (and do so in a way that is not seen as boasting, but as informative and helpful). Promote yourself by volunteering for projects, giving speeches, writing blogs, and taking an active part in professional organizations. Network within and outside your industry. Find mentors and sponsors who will guide and help promote you.NJ GoldstonWho you know within your industry and area of expertise can be a major advantage in moving your agenda forward, and some of the best connections are made outside the office. Use informal gatherings and industry events to make connections that may prove invaluable to projects and your career. By having strong and varied contacts you bring new resources to your company, gain credibility, and build a powerful professional network.6. Defeat t he double-bind paradox.My contribution As males rise in rank and status at work, they retain (and often increase) their perceived likability - so they can be both powerful and likable. The Double-Bind Paradox states that while women must project authority in order to advance in the business world, the more powerful they appear, the less they are liked. Catalyst calls this the damned if you do, doomed if dont dilemma. Their research shows that women in power can be seen as capable or likable - but rarely both.Blame it on the stereotypes of women as nurturing, sensitive, and collaborative, When their behavior is congruent with these traits, women are liked, although not seen as especially powerful. When their behavior runs counter to the stereotype, they are perceived more negatively. A frequently cited Stanford University Graduate School of Business study, the Heidi/Howard case, shows that when the same highly assertive and successful leader is described to grad students (of both g enders), that person is seen as far more appealing when given a male name instead of a female one.Does that mean you are indeed dammed or doomed as Catalyst suggested? Well, maybe not.One encouraging possibility that addresses this bias comes from another study at Stanford that found businesswomen who are assertive and confident, but who can turn these traits on and off depending on the social circumstances, get more promotions than either men or other women.The most successful women leaders have developed a strategic ability to read a situation and verehrtester their behavior accordingly. Like them, you can take this potent combination of softness and toughness all the way to the C-suite.Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., is an international keynote speaker and leadership presence coach. Shes the author of The Silent Language of Leaders How Body Language Can Help or Hurt How You Lead and creator of LinkedInLearnings video series Body Language for Leaders. For more information, visithttps/ /CarolKinseyGoman.com.

Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input

Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data InputSay youre at a movie and you get a text from the babysitter asking where to find the stuffed animal your child cant sleep without. Or maybe youre a teenager at the tableno phones allowedbut you simply have got to share a piece of gossip with a friend. At the moment, theres no way to input text into a phone, or any other device, without drawing attention to the activity with thumbs on screen or words whispered into a mouthpiece.But Cheng Zhang, a researcher at Georgia Techs Ubicomp Lab, has a new way for teenagers, parents, and anyone else to enter words on the sly. Its a thumb ring, and its sensitive to both sound and movement. We chose the thumb because it feels natural, Zhang says. But, more importantly, if you drag your thumb across your prankeglieds, it has tactile feedback.When you drag your thumb across a finger its a very unique sound, very differe nt from the thumb touching other objects. Cheng Zhang, researcher, Georgia Tech FingerSound uses wearable ring technology to detect numbers and letters drawn on fingers. Image Georgia TechThere have been other attempts at creating one-handed input devices, but theyre far more obtrusive than a simple ring. And they have a steep learning curve, with users usually required to learn different key combinationsor chordsfor a single letter.Zhang thinks that these devices havent taken off because no one wants to memorize new gestures or movements The QWERTY keyboard, as an example, continues to be the dominant way to type, despite the fact that it was designed deliberately to slow users down, and can, these days, be easily swapped for faster configurations on any computer. He wanted to stick to knowledge already in your head, so he turned to Unistroke, invented 27 years ago for handwriting recognition. With the thumb ring on, users need only make the shape of the letter they want to enter and a gyroscope on the ring recognizes the pattern. Advanced users, with a greater tolerance for learning, could conceivably teach the ring to recognize more efficient gestures in future iterations of the technology.Just for You More stories on design and manufacturing from ASME.orgNeedless to say, the average thumb does not go immobile when finished inputting text. Zhang needed a way to let his ring know when a thumb started a gesture and when it finished. So he included a contact microphone. The type of mic, its proximity to all digits, and the distinctness of thumb on finger vibrations allow the ring to avoid false positives and negatives from ambient sound. When you drag your thumb across a finger its a very unique sound, very different from the thumb touching other objects.The uniqueness of that sound could, theoretically, allow the ring to operate without the gyroscope. With a large enough data set, a brush to different parts of different fingers could indicate a different letter. In fact, Zhangs first experiments used only a microphone and no gyroscope. But sound can be different from person to person. It depends on what kind of skin you have. And when your hand is wet it sounds different. Then you have to provide more training, Zhang says. In real life, no one wants to do that.Of course, the device has applications beyond the surreptitious communications of teens and moviegoers. It could provide a safer way to input information while driving and it could allow people with disabilities to easily communicate. It will also work with any electronic device, allowing the gadget-swamped consumer to ditch TV remotes and other input devices. But first it has to shrink.In the future it will get small and comfy, says Zhang. And it will look cool.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Related stories from ASME.org12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering CareerBuilding a Better Warmer for Newborns3D Printing Better Root Canals For Further Discus sion