Lip-Sticking

Correct use of the word Awesome the Lilly Ledbetter Story

by Yvonne DiVita

This is for my daughters, my granddaughters, my friends, and everyone who has ever worked hard through discrimination.

It's the first anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Act where President Obama went to bat for women and equal pay. This video is of Lilly, herself, talking about her story, sharing what brought her to this purpose and showing us all that we need to continue standing up for women to make changes in how business and politics look at us, how they treat us, and how they view us as human beings.

As a woman who understands this issue - and too many of us do - I cannot stress the importance of getting behind this story and sharing with everyone you know. It's not a party issue. It's a people issue.

This isn't a story that is hard to watch or hard to hear. It's a story that is uplifting and encouraging. Despite the setbacks and the long enduring timeframe needed to make this happen, Lilly shows all of us that change is possible and that never giving up makes a difference. I hope you'll share the Lilly Ledbetter story with others and spread the word.

This link goes to President Obama and his words on the Fair Pay Act and Equal Pay For All Workers video. Another video worth watching and sharing.

 

A Herbal Wish for the New Year

by Yvonne DiVita, visit us on Facebook

From a fab newsletter I receive on Aromatics, Cindy Jones shared a wonderful bit of wisdom that I asked if I could share. And, she said yes. Thanks, Cindy. Do visit her site if you get a moment today.

A New Years Herbal Wish

New Year, New You

Guest Post by Hannah Morgan

January is around the corner. Are you are considering changing jobs in 2012? Job search is a bit different today, so you will want to make sure you prepare yourself for the journey ahead. Even if you love your job, make 2012 the year you invest wisely in your future and career. Here are four tips for increasing your network, knowledge and options as you embark on the new year.

Use What You’ve Already Got

Everyone has past colleagues, co-workers, friends and family. Will you resolve to do a better job keeping in touch? This is just one of many ways to do this.

Send a “Happy New Year” update email to your contacts in your personal email. Make it a blend of your personal and professional highlights and/or goals. Tell them that you would like to hear what they are up to as well and you look forward to hearing from them. Have fun with it and have people you trust proofread it before you hit send.

What is this thing called "Art"?

by Yvonne DiVita

 Last night Tom and I attended Art as Action's performance of "a beautiful mistake." I've discussed Art as Action before - in my innovation post here and my post on the idea of art here. Today, I'll share how I felt last night, sitting in the dark at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder, CO, while the troupe of performers amazed and astonished us... with their art.

During the year, like many of you, I think, I'm not too focused on this "what is art" thing. I fall back into complacency where art is a painting or a musical score. I might see a TV show with fantastic performers who knock your socks off singing or dancing. I might get a glimpse of what's happening at the local theatre or museum - and recognize the 'art' of the event. But, I don't experience it. I don't feel it. I imagine it. I let it touch me with a whisper, and I feel ok.

Imagination is good, don't get me wrong. Imagination is what the Art as Action troupe embodies with a passion. But, what they do...what they share...what happens at one of their performances, is something you don't hear about much. It takes you beyond feeling 'ok'. It's the experience of being in the art, part of the art, with the art. It's allowing the art to be you; the whisper becomes a song, a shout, a full-blown body connection, invading your heart, your mind, your soul with a sense of being that's hard to put in words.

Girlfriends Online

by Yvonne DiVita

It's true - women make friends for life. Even when we lose track of old friends - moving away, changing lifestyle (going from single to married or back again), we remember those friends fondly and often wish we could get back together.

I am fortunate to have made many friends over the years, while still maintaining a connection (however small it is) to my high school friends. Just before my move to CO, I attended an impromptu reunion with many of my high school friends.

Today, I count all of you as friends. People who write to me via this blog and who I have met via this blog, make up a large group of wonderful women and men that make me glad to know them. Today, one of my true BFFs, Toby Bloomberg, who not too long ago launched the premiere site for single women over 40 - All the Single GirlFriends - has featured me in a short interview on her site.

Funny NOT Slutty - BWAHHAAAAA!!!!

From a BFF over at All the Single Girl Friends, Lip-sticking brings you:

FunnyNotSlutty.com Blazes New Trails with Its Redesigned Site for Women Who Love Comedy: New Features Make It Even Easier to Find Fresh, Funny Content that Makes Women Laugh

Recognized by many as a pioneering site for women in comedy, web sensation Funny Not Slutty is blazing even newer trails with its recently launched, revamped web site. A sleeker design, fresh content and improved navigation make it even easier to find and promote smart comedy made by women, for women – the main goal, as far as publisher Jacki Schklar is concerned.

“Our comedy targets women, but it’s also created by female producers, writers, humorists and comedians. Our content may be a little smarter and a little deeper than your average web humor,” explained Schklar, who first began the site in 2008 after finding a shortage of online humor appealing to an audience beyond the teenaged boy set.

Do YOU Have a Book In You?

by Yvonne DiVita

The answer to the title question is, Yes. Whether or not you've ever considered writing a book, the answer is still yes. Because I firmly believe that each and every one of us has a book in her (or him), waiting to be written.

There is no doubt about it - writing a book is hard work. As a Print-On-Demand publisher who has worked with new authors and seasoned authors, alike, I can tell you each has its struggles. Each author comes to the process with notions that it's going to be easy or hard or fun or not. Some have even studied the 'market' - seeking out books in the area they're writing about to see how successful or powerful their competition is. Regardless of the pre-work or the dreams or the book purpose, the actual writing is a task that can prove to be overwhelming. And, to be honest, whether you actually publish the book or not, writing a book can be a very successful way to get more insight into yourself and your business.

Enter... some help that will provide more than just writing advice.

What Women Should Expect from a Marketing Department - And It's Not the Color Pink

guest post by Amanda DiSilvestro @businessdotcom

As a woman, you would assume marketing to women would be simple. Believe it or not, this does not always come easy to men or to women when it comes to creating company campaigns.

Many marketing departments have set their sights on social media, Ebooks, QR codes, and other emerging ways to advertise, yet they are forgetting about who is receiving these advertisements. Finding your target audience has proven extremely important, but all of the new marketing platforms seem to be taking over the focus of many marketing departments. In other words, I think companies need to go back to the basics and start coming up with more creative ways to market to a specific group of people. So, starting with the best and most interesting—women.

Going viral and rewarding customers with value

By Amanda J. Ponzar

What’s been on my mind this week: rewards programs. Let’s see what rewards/membership/loyalty cards are in my purse:

Starbucks gold card. Cosi. Hallmark. Panera Bread. Babies R Us/Toys R Us. Family Christian Stores. Regal Cinemas Crown Club. Waterfront café. Giant, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Balducci’s, CVS, Petco, Petsmart, Borders, Hair Cuttery. And let’s not even start on the hotels and airlines.

That doesn’t include all the email lists (no card) so I get free movie rental codes from RedBox, plus coupons and sales updates from Bath and Body Works, Old Navy, New York and Company, Amazon, Chili’s, Kohl’s, 10,000 Villages, Forever 21, Target, Walmart, Shutterfly, Pampers, Lean Cuisine and more.

It feels good to be rewarded for loyalty, and I often go out of my way to shop or eat somewhere when I know I’m getting something I value (free Starbucks drink after 15 transactions, 20% off coupon, etc.). Tropical Smoothie Café used to give me a free smoothie after a certain number of transactions and I went out of my way to hold business and personal lunches there. Once they stopped the rewards card, I stopped going. I can walk to smoothie places right near my office and pay the same price.

I’ve also been thinking about audience engagement. Every organization (company, nonprofit, individual) wants to “go viral” with their content, campaign, website or widget. But how?

Power Women ala Forbes

by Yvonne DiVita

The title of this post refers to another great list of powerful women and how they manage their lives. But, seriously, I'd like a list of their Mothers, thank you. Or, their Fathers. Or, their kids.

Every year the business world creates these lists of the World's Most Powerful Women, and, while I appreciate the focus on women of accomplishment, I resent that the lists really just shuffle names around. Even when they add someone new, it's based on how much money the woman makes. As if money is the only way to demonstrate accomplishment. These are MY personal thoughts, of course. The actual process may be quite different.

I see a number of female celebrities on the list -