Wise Bread (Julie Rains)

Networking Basics for Regular People

Julie Rains — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Competition for jobs is fierce but networking is one way of differentiating yourself as a stellar candidate. Recently, I read the e-book, "Stop Job Searching, Start Networking" from Job Bound, a career-services company. According to Job Bound, 66% of all jobs are won through networking, so much of your job-search time should be concentrated on spreading the word about your credentials, in addition to applying for open positions found through publicly available listings (a target company's website, online job boards, craigslist, etc.). Here are some of their tips on networking basics.

Getting Started

Tell people that you are in the job market.

Let your friends, neighbors, family, etc. know about your goals, including the industry, field, or company that you are pursuing. Being specific about your goals, rather than saying you'll do anything, can make it easier for them to help you, and shows that you are taking control of your search.

Network with all contacts, not just senior executives.

At some point, you want to get in touch with a hiring manager who has a need for an individual with your talent; the path to such a manager may or may not be through traditional channels such as the SVP of a division or HR department.

Tap into the career centers.

Go to your local community college (whether you have attended there or not) and your alma mater. The community college may offer assistance with the job search process as well as opportunities for networking with other job seekers, students, and instructors who may have worked or are working in your chosen field. Colleges and universities also enable networking among alumni through LinkedIn groups and local chapters of alumni associations.

Do research before an event.

If you are attending a special networking event or career fair, do some research to learn about those you may be meeting. By having some general knowledge of participants and their companies, you can be prepared to engage them in conversation. Avoid showing that you have too much information but that you are aware of trends in your industry. Bring a business card so that you can exchange contact information for follow-up purposes.

Be helpful.

Understand that networking should be mutually beneficial to all involved, so offer assistance when you can. Learning about your contact's needs and sharing your knowledge, contacts, etc. is a great way to offer value to the relationship.

Managing Networking Activities

Keep your contacts organized.

Keep a spreadsheet of your contacts with names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of meetings/phone calls, points of discussion, etc. In the stress of a job search, you might be surprised at how easily you may forget about who you've met or a next step to pursue. Having this info written down somewhere can help keep you on track.

Arrange informational interviews.

Informational interviews should be a central part of your networking efforts. These sessions can be face-to-face meetings or phone conversations. They are generally casual but still require basic business etiquette so consider paying the bill for coffee (or lunch, depending on your budget) for meetings that you have initiated.

Always send a thank-you note.

Send a thank-you note to those who have taken the time to meet with you. Say thanks, of course, but also remind your contacts about what you hope to accomplish through your networking and job search. A note sent through regular mail can be a nice touch that helps you stand out from those usually sent through email.

Follow up to remind them who you are.

Follow up with your contacts, letting them know about fruitful conversations and keeping them apprised of your progress. You can maintain your networking momentum through periodic updates. Remind them of your needs to improve the likelihood that the the timing of your desire for a certain type of job can coincide with a hiring manager's need for a person with certain qualifications. Plus, some may think that you have found a position or moved in another direction if you don't keep them updated about ;your search.

Join an organization.

Expand your network by volunteering in the community or joining a professional organization. Check out groups before making a long-term commitment. And consider long-term benefits as much as immediate ones, which might include a support system during your search and new skills that can transfer to the workplace.

Don't seem desperate.

Don't cross the line between active networking and seemingly desperate measures. In a phone conversation with the folks at Job Bound, I learned that some job seekers forget that hiring managers have caller ID and may feel leery of contacts who call repeatedly (even if they never leave messages). They also discourage job-searching networkers from just stopping by a workplace unannounced but suggest that even casual meetings should involve scheduling an appointment.

Use Twitter.

Twitter can help keep your contacts informed about your progress without inundating their email inboxes. Topics for tweets may include daily job search goals (example: "I hope to set up informational interviews with 2 event planners today"), mentions that you've updated your LinkedIn profile, and reviews of books or news articles relevant to your target industry or discipline. You'll give people specific ideas for helping you (example: you can pass along the name of an event-planning friend) and position yourself as deeply engaged in your field.

While you're busy networking, don't neglect spiffing up your resume with awesome accomplishments or preparing for interview questions. In my experience with career-services clients, people land great positions through networking in the midst of active job searches that had been focused on pursuing leads through classified ads, job boards, company websites, etc.

After you start a new job, don't stop networking; keep connecting with people to build collaborations, find new talent for your company, or be considered for those yet-to-be advertised positions when you're ready to make a career move later.

Note: I received a copy of "Stop Job Searching, Start Networking" e-book from Job Bound in exchange for a review.

Permalink | 8 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Career Building

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Tools to Get Organized, Family Style

Julie Rains — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:15:57 +0000

By Julie Rains

Many people think I’m incredibly well organized because I can easily manage (certain) projects and recite dates, locations, deadlines, etc. for my family’s activities. Though I have a few receptacles for the kids’ papers (graded essays and class policies, for example), the truth is that I’d be almost completely lost without my computer: my Gmail account has 19,000+ messages for quick reference, the Internet gives me access to school schedules, and Excel spreadsheets have helped me look like I know what I’m doing.

Here are some easy-to-follow, tech-oriented tips on keeping things together whether there are toddlers or teenagers running amok at your house.

Money Management for Kids and Their Parents

You know, I used to think that those $200,000+ estimates of how much it costs to raise a kid were seriously inflated with private-school tuition and parental excesses. But now that my children are 15 and 12 (and requiring nearly constant intake of food, stuff for school, and other resources), I see those projections may have been conservative. To encourage wise money management, here’s a family budget spreadsheet to help explain to the kids why funding even small requests daily can add to big dollars pretty quickly. (See Where does the money go?" post explaining the spreadsheet.)

Family Budget spreadsheet by Wise Bread

View more documents from Julie Rains.

I’ve also used Excel to keep track of mailing addresses for Christmas cards (after I kept misplacing my address book), figure out costs, payments, balances, for a whitewater trip I organized last year, and manage the bank account for a women’s group at my church.

Remembering What Foods Your Kids Have Tried and Liked

I’ve been told that getting kids to try new foods is really important to getting them to actually eat a variety of foods. Liz Gumbinner at Cool Mom Picks is actually tracking what her kids have tried, what they like, and what they don't like using a new foods chart. I am sure this approach will yield benefits for kids and parents in everything from menu planning to expansion of food preferences. Here's a quick mention of Liz's progess in getting kids to try new foods.

New Foods Chart by Cool Mom Picks

View more documents from Liz Gumbinner.

Organizing Events

Putting together a to-do list for an event may seem basic, but if you’re organizing a school-wide activity for the PTA, for example, there are likely lots of stakeholders (people who want things to go well) and just a few volunteers involved. Ashley O'Neill of Savvy Source has created an event to-do spreadsheet that shows how to

break the project into manageable pieces
assign tasks
make notes about each to-do item (what's been done, any problems encountered, lessons learned, etc.)

A plus to this approach is that you can be sure that you've handled everything that needs to be done, and give status updates quickly and confidently.

Sample Event To Do List by Savvy Source

View more documents from Ashley O’Neill.

Homework

Whether you bribe your kids to do their homework or not, you may have considered some sort of incentive to prevent procrastination, stop whining, and encourage effort. Danny Evans of Dad Gone Mad created a cool, colorful spreadsheet (Homework Chart) to let kids record progress toward rewards. Here's a discussion of his idea for lowering household stress associated with homework.

Homework Chart by Dad Gone Mad

View more presentations from Danny Evans.

Do you have ways of keeping organized and getting things done with a family? Share them in the comments.

Permalink | 3 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Budgeting, Productivity

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Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids

Julie Rains — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:00:03 +0000

By Julie Rains

I love Halloween but hate paying high prices for kids' costumes. Over the years, I have managed to create a few costumes cheaply without tapping into my extremely sparse (nonexistent?) sewing and craft skills. Here are some costume ideas (suitable for kids of various ages) that could save you money with minimal effort.

A Halloween make-up kit is all you may need to buy, depending on what types of clothing and props you may already have at home. For inexpensive accessories, visit your local dollar store or thrift shop.

Football Player

cover photo by pnoeric

Put black make-up under the eyes to simulate eye black
Wear football jersey (add white football pants or solid-colored sweatpants that match jersey)
Carry a prop such as a football or helmet

Knight

photo by ThrasherDave

Wear solid-colored clothing; add a tunic with crest if you have one
Carry shield, helmet, and toy sword (we have these around the house but if you don't, check out the dollar store)

Ghost

photo by goldberg

Cut white sheets to proper length for your child
Decorate with cute or scary faces (shown here: angry and sad) or cut out a section in the middle for the head so that the sheet fits like a poncho

Pirate

photo by Mykl Rovertine

Dress in stripes with contrasting solid colors (here: striped skirt with white shirt and black tights and black shoes; or go with a striped shirt with black pants)
Add accessories such as an eyepatch, pirate's hat, and/or toy sword

50's Character

photo by divemasterking2000

50's Man:

Slick back hair with hair gel, mousse, or Pomade
Wear white t-shirt and jeans
Add leather jacket if you have one

50's Woman:

Wear full skirt with solid-colored blouse
Put on a polyester scarf
Wear short socks (or bobby socks) with sneakers

The Joker

photo by Beau B

Apply base of white make-up to face, surround outside of eyes with black, and make a smile with red make-up
Wear a cheap suit or sport jacket with pants and tie (try Goodwill to find an inexpensive suit)

Princess

Photo by charlotte.marillet

Dress in a cute outfit (I especially like the pink)
Place tiara on head and wand in hand

Hippie

photo by e m i photoart

Wear psychedelic clothing (try something multi-colored with a flowery or tie-dyed motif)
Put on layers of beads

More costume ideas:

Scarily Simple Halloween Costumes (kids)

Clever Homemade Costumes (grown-ups)

Costumes from things you already own (grown-ups)

Homemade Halloween makeup (very gross but I like the Joker idea)

Do you have simple, fast, and inexpensive costume ideas? Share them in the comments.

Permalink | 5 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure

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Awesome Accomplishments: 50+ Questions to Ask Yourself and Figure Out What You've Done

Julie Rains — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:02 +0000

By Julie Rains

Figuring out what you've accomplished at work is essential to demonstrating your value to employers and clients. Though some people are keenly aware of their accomplishments (a sales representative, for example, can usually tell me how much she increased sales or how many new accounts he landed), others stumble. Often, these other folks have made great contributions, but don't have highly visible results.

Here are 50+ questions to jumpstart the process of articulating awesome accomplishments. Use them to help write your resume, elaborate on why you are the perfect candidate for a position, or create talking points for a presentation.

To get warmed up or just to stir your recollection, ask yourself:

What were things* like when you started your new job and how did they improve while you were there? (*the condition of the company, division, department, etc.)
How is your performance measured and did you reach any performance targets? (You don't have to mention the ones that you missed, if any; but rather highlight the targets you met and/or exceeded.)
What did your boss say he/she wanted you to achieve when you were hired?
What do you feel you've accomplished, regardless of what your current boss or colleagues may think? (Note: working in a dysfunctional workplace isn't considered a noteworthy or resume-worthy accomplishment but showing results in difficult economic situations or during major leadership changes can be)

Actions

What amazing actions did you take? Did you:

open new accounts?
establish new channels of distribution?
create an infrastructure for any function(s)?
design and/or implement standard operating procedures?
develop the professional capabilities of people who were then promoted to positions of greater accountability and/or who outperformed peers?
add new products or streamline SKUs?
originate new merchandise categories?
increase inventory turns?
develop or strengthen vendor partnerships?
establish a VMI (vendor-managed inventory) program?
launch a new brand?
start a private label?
develop a training program?
more closely define customer preferences?
initiate and/or manage a major project?
renegotiate contracts?
reengineer business processes?
restructure organizations?
write or redesign job descriptions?
reach new audiences?
grow subscribers or membership base?
improve the accuracy of sales forecasts?
start a new division?
grow your referral base?
begin sourcing or production in a new region or country?
start outsourcing tasks?
expand your presence to a new geographic territory?
establish quality standards?
institute quality review processes?
create a vendor scorecard?
start evaluating vendor performance?
initiate vendor chargebacks?
write an employee or vendor manual?
design forms or templates?
introduce and/or direct programs that resulted in regulatory compliance or achievement of certain industry standards?
expand or consolidate your vendor base?
accelerate product development?
implement new technology-based solutions or lead technology integrations?
win support from internal or external groups?
create a reference library or archives of key information?
accelerate month-end reporting?
tighten financial or operational controls?
improve inventory accuracy?
decrease order-to-delivery lead times or speed-to-market times?
design and/or institute order tracking or call tracking systems?
start a safety program?
introduce new employee benefits or incentive programs?
inaugurate new invoicing procedures or payment methods?
equip employees for new or expanded assignments?
automate a process previously performed manually?
eliminate unnecessary or redundant processes?
design a business continuity plan?
speed up collections?
get rid of unprofitable product lines or customer accounts?
align services with customer requirements?
do something else?

Results

As a result of these actions, did you

increase sales?
reduce costs?
improve profits?
grow market share?
increase service levels?
achieve better quality or consistency?
reduce customer returns?
improve safety and/or reduce risk?
speed up cash flow?
reduce debt load?
boost productivity?
lower employee turnover?
reverse business losses or declining trends?
improve company's reputation?
elevate sustainability?
position the company for future growth?

Use these questions to brainstorm and then start defining your accomplishments. You can take this process to a higher level by defining the challenges you may have faced; for example: you may have been hired amid a public scandal, pending lawsuit, or major competitive threat.

Many people wonder about the line that separates duties and company expectations from real accomplishments. A few months ago, for example, I spoke with someone who had delivered double-digit improvements to his work area but because these stellar results were "expected" by the company, he hadn't deemed them worthy of an official accomplishment. So, the line between accountabilities and accomplishments is not always crystal clear -- figure out what's typical in your field and show how you excelled.

Permalink | 4 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Career Building

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One Talent, Multiple Streams of Income

Julie Rains — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:00:04 +0000

By Julie Rains

Wondering how to use a creative talent to pay the bills now and build for retirement later? Last week, I spoke with Texas wildflower artist Linda Calvert Jacobson about what works for her. I'll share her strategies so that you can find ways to invest your talents.

Linda runs her business with a relatively low overhead and hardly any cash tied up in inventory. She rents space from a non-profit artist's association, upstairs from the group's main gallery. This space serves as her studio, gallery, art classroom, and site for summer camps and marketing seminars. She also diversifies her income.

Original art

Linda creates paintings of Texas wildflowers and sells them at her gallery and online store. She also displays them at local venues and participates in art shows. Income is generated from these one-time sales. Though some artists also arrange for the production of multiple prints, Linda has opted out of this arrangement largely to avoid investing in print inventory. Instead, she has found other ways of producing income from a single piece of art.

Print-on-demand of original designs

Through her own CafePress shop and similar online shops such as Zazzle, Linda can create and sell collections of embellished ceramic tiles, throw pillows, ornaments, and more. Because these companies collect payments, produce items, and ship products to customers, Linda doesn't have to hire staff, buy production equipment, or rent distribution space to fulfill orders; instead, she pays a low monthly fee for a customized, premium shop.

International licensing of original designs

Licensing agreements allow the licensee to use specific designs of the licensor (Linda, in this case) on specific products in specific countries for a certain amount of time at an established compensation rate, which may be royalties, flat-rate payments, or combination of flat rate plus royalties. Linda struck deals with international licensing companies by running a booth at international licensing shows in New York and California. Currently, her designs embellish limited-edition watches sold in the U.K. and greeting cards distributed in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. Though she wasn't opposed to the idea, she didn't have to pay the licensing firms to develop or promote her creative works of art.

Art lessons

Using prior experience as an art teacher, Linda provides instruction in drawing and painting to adults and children. The classes provide a reliable source of income throughout the year and keep her in touch with people in the community. Because sessions are held in her studio/gallery, she doesn't have to spend extra money on classroom space.

Summer camps

After getting lots of inquiries about summer camp from parents of students and adult students with children, Linda decided to start offering day camps during the summer and spring break. She researched camp activities and developed project-based sessions with a variety of themes, such as "Circus, Circus" for younger kids and "Art in 3-D-Real or Not" for those a bit older. The camps have become so popular that this year, she had just a slot or two left open among a slate of 20 camp sessions. Again, she is using the same space as her studio/gallery and offering a valuable service to community members while generating income. Planning takes a lot of time but some camp themes can be repeated so that she can possibly reap income from one idea (plus the hard work it takes to promote and run the camp) for years to come.

Marketing seminars

Now that she has developed multiple streams of income and learned to promote her artistic talents locally and globally, Linda has begun offering marketing seminars to artists. She hopes to show others how to make a living as an artist and build yet another source of revenue.

More ideals

Linda is currently investigating the e-book as a method of conveying her marketing methods to a broader audience and generating income from one creative piece.

Through sales of original art, lessons, and camp, Linda generates income to take care of her needs for the present. By establishing a national and global presence, and entering the world of licensing and royalties, she is developing streams of income that won't depend on day-to-day effort for the future. Linda's techniques can be applied to nearly anyone who wants to turn creative talent into income:

Sell locally by tapping into community-based associations and developing partnerships with area businesses that might host special events or promote your work.
Extend your reach nationally and globally through online sales, licensing, and engagement of outside representatives.
Create and sell items using your own artwork, photographs, copyright-free material, or copy (I thought this saying was clever though I disagree with the conclusion) by using print-on-demand services.
Write an e-book or self-publish a printed book using Lulu.com or similar services.
Teach specific skills or ways of doing things to other people through classes, seminars, webinars, and camps.

Permalink | 14 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Entrepreneurship

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5 Fatal Assumptions of Job Seekers

Julie Rains — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:29:45 +0000

By Julie Rains

Many people are job hunting these days. I have worked with job seekers for many years and have found that these five common assumptions frequently derail a job search.

1. Being open to anything will increase my chances of landing a job.

The search ought to have a focus: you should be targeting opportunities in a certain discipline or function; or you should have identified the strengths you'd like to leverage and then uncovered positions that match these strengths. The resume should convey that focus; otherwise, you can't differentiate yourself from other candidates because you're not really great at anything but rather average at many things.

Hiring managers don't want to spend training and payroll dollars on a so-so candidate, especially in an environment where money is an extremely limited resource and a more qualified candidate is sure to surface soon.

However, it is true that job seekers need to be flexible when pursuing a new position. Depending on your current situation and long-term goals, you should be open to opportunities in a new industry, a smaller rather than larger company (or vice versa), and even a change of locale.

And, it's also true that job seekers snag jobs that are not perfectly in sync with their original targets. In these cases, here's what the hiring manager is thinking:

tap into skills that the job seeker didn't realize were valuable (for example, a client seeking a sales position was selected by a state agency for a position requiring client advocacy capabilities, which she possessed from years of volunteering in a similar role)
hire "fresh" talent with no preconceived notions of how to approach a new market, reach a different kind of customer, etc.
recruit people with a certain background because past, similar hires have been successful

2. No one could possibly possess all of the qualifications required by the employer.

I've seen job postings that seem to be an impossible-to-get wish list created by an optimistic hiring manager. For example, a sourcing position might list the following requirements (this is a partial list of requirements taken from an online job board posting):

MBA
experience in supply chain management, purchasing, and contract negotiation
working knowledge of SAP
professional designations, such as a CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager)
fluency in Mandarin Chinese

Stay focused on pursuing opportunities that match your qualifications. Build and leverage your professional network. At the same time, consider boosting your skills through classes at the community college or volunteer experience.

So, while it's true that the perfect candidate may not appear for many job postings (or, more likely the company is required to advertise for an opening that is probably going to be filled by an internal candidate who does have these credentials), going for multiple long shots is probably not going to increase your chances at winning a fantastic job.

3. I can elaborate during the interview rather than including valuable information on the resume.

The defense of the extremely brief resume is often that hiring managers won't read a long one. But there needs to be enough information to allow the reader to judge whether the candidate has 1. minimum qualifications and 2. enough talent and proven experience to contribute to the hiring organization. Otherwise, the sought-after interview will never happen.

Even if a resume is two (or even three) pages, a well-designed format that allows quick scanning for critical information can get the document placed in the "maybe" pile for further evaluation. Compelling accomplishments and deeper-than-average descriptions of position duties may actually aid the screening and selection process, ultimately saving time for the hiring manager.

Certain topics though (for example, why you left a job after a couple of months) are best discussed in the interview rather than detailed on the resume.

4. The people who will hire me will understand my resume.

It's true that hiring managers will often have a better, more complete grasp of the industry and discipline-specific lingo that's on your resume than your neighbor or even your best friend.

But the resume will most likely be screened by a recruiter or human resources manager who may not have expertise in your field; and possibly scrutinized by higher-level staff and potential coworkers who may participate in the selection process. So, using understandable language is important to communicating your qualifications to as many people as possible (see my post on online job boards for ways to identify common terms and keywords). To appeal to a broader audience, mention collaborative abilities and team contributions; and emphasize accomplishments that not only helped your department improve but also boosted the company's overall performance.

5. A hiring decision will be made in a reasonable time frame.

One of the most common mistakes is to assume that a hiring decision will be made according to a reasonable timeline and therefore (here's the dangerous part), you should wait before pursuing other opportunities. If you are happily employed and really want a particular position and no other position, then it is reasonable to wait until you learn of the decision. But very often, decisions are delayed for long periods of time for reasons such as:

position hasn't been officially approved by the corporate office
economic conditions and company's needs have changed since recruitment began
no great candidates have emerged with interest in the position
hiring process requires multiple levels of approval and rounds of interviewing
decision makers have been traveling on business for a few months

Even when hiring managers provide a timeline to a candidate, they very often don't adhere to the schedule. And, in some cases, they choose a candidate but are not able to extend an offer.

Some job seekers seem to have a fear of having to make a difficult choice among more than one employer. But the savvy seeker keeps pursuing any and every opportunity, and even leverages salary negotiations by getting multiple offers. (See How to Play the Post-Interview Waiting Game for more insights.)

What do you think? Have you reversed your assumptions since starting a search?

Permalink | 6 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Career Building

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Summer Camp as a Side Business

Julie Rains — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:00:02 +0000

By Julie Rains

My tween son went to a Lego camp this summer so that he could learn robotics, something I wasn’t sure I could teach him since his technical skills typically surpass mine. My initial fascination was with the computer programming aspect of the camp. Then, I became intrigued with the idea of running a summer camp as a side business. So, I spoke with seasoned camp directors about how they turned summer weeks into extra income. Here's a road map for a summer camp business.

Passion usually sparks the (summer camp) fire

Most of the independently run camps that I learned about were formed because of the camp director's passion, though some were started as a way to fill a market niche. Dedication to serving kids and their families seems just as intense whether the camp is the fruit of a long-held dream or a deeply-researched business plan. Types of camps offered include:

Academic Enrichment
Arts & Technology
Basketball
Cheerleading
Lacrosse
Lego Buildng (not affiliated with Lego but involving construction of Lego sets)
Outdoor experiences
Traditional camp (crafts, games, music, drama)
Visual Art
Western Ranch

Marketing: word-of-mouth rules

Word-of-mouth referrals seem to be the best (and least expensive) way of attracting campers. Referrals may come from campers and their families, or those who work with potential campers, such as teachers, coaches, and counselors associated with youth organizations. Most camps have websites but some rely more on search engine traffic and web campaigns than others. Marketing techniques:

Word-of-mouth referrals
Websites
Flyers and banners at kids’ schools, partner facilities, and local businesses
Listings in summer camp directories in newspapers and websites
Direct mail and email campaigns
Newspaper ads
Google ads
Television ads
Social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Summer camp referral services such as Camp Finders
Craigslist

Hire and train staff who love what you do

Camp directors will often tap into their networks to find staff suitable for working with children and qualified to provide supervision and instruction in specific areas (in addition to background checks). For example:

Courtney Reid-Hammock of Camp Trinity Children Programs hires teachers for her academic camp
Drew Searl of East Meets West Lacrosse hires professional players and coaches for his lacrosse camp
James Taylor of Taylored Athletes hires current or former professional players who have earned college degrees for his basketball camp
Neeley Neal of Sideline Star hires AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators) certified professionals for her cheerleading camp

Staff training ranges from half-day talks on camp basics for day camps to multi-day sessions for staffers at residential (overnight) camps, such as that held by Maine Arts Camp including instruction from medical professionals. Topics might include camp policies, camp songs, responses to medical emergencies, and dealing with behavioral problems.

Find space wherever you can

An open field can work for some day camps (such as cheerleading or lacrosse) while residential camps require more extensive facilities such as cabins or dormitory-style housing, classrooms, and cafeterias. Ideas for locations:

public parks and recreation facilities
privately owned studios (gymnastics, dance, karate, etc.)
places of worship
college and university facilities
your own place (property owners Glynn and Jo-An Turman hold Camp Gid D Up at their ranch)

Match camp with campers

Most camps don't have rules about who can attend (with the exception of age requirements) but are clear about their offerings and whether a camp is suitable for potential campers. Common ways of making sure that camp will be fun and appropriate for campers:

in-depth descriptions of camp activities on brochures and websites
candid discussions with prospective parents who often call to get information on camp
camper applications with personal and medical histories (Camp Caglewood, which serves children and adults with special needs, has a thorough application process to make sure camp is enjoyable and enriching, and adapts its programs to the specific medical, social, and/or physical needs of campers)

Safety and risk management ideas:

establish and maintain an appropriate camper:counselor ratio
set, communicate, and adhere to rules and policies
get campers to sign agreements covering behavior and safety issues
have parents sign releases or waivers (including photo releases)
access the expertise of insurance agents, who can advise on risk management measures
carry event insurance and liability coverage
have medical staff onsite or contract with a physician for dedicated services during camp weeks
limit camp hours so that campers will not need to have medication during sessions
have campers bring their own snacks and/or lunches to help avoid allergy problems

Deal with concerns of parents

Candy Cohn, assistant director of a residential camp told me typical concerns of parents are whether their kids will be able to make friends and get along with other campers. Many parents also feel uncomfortable with not having on-demand access to their kids, who aren't allowed to have cell phones. To help kids and parents make the transition from home to camp, Candy and others advise:

keep camp small enough to provide personal attention to campers
get information on specific concerns of parents and address those concerns directly
encourage parents to allow their children to develop independence
be available for kids who may need mentoring or special attention

Make money (or give back to the community)

To set camper fees, consider industry standards for pricing and count all expenses, such as:

facility rentals
instructor fees
advertising
camp-related equipment and supplies
administrative supplies
food
insurance
takeaway items such as camp t-shirts

Payment policies include 50% or payment-in-full at time of registration with balances due at the time of camp. Some camps offer discounts for early registration, referrals, and siblings.

A few of the camps I've mentioned are 501(c)(3) non-profits (Camp Caglewood and ReCreation Camp provides outdoor and traditional camp experiences for adults and children with special needs; Camp Gid D Up serves inner city and at-risk children) but operate using business principles; they cover costs through donations, sponsorships, or camper fees.

Get started with camp

Experience as a youth instructor, coach, and volunteer is a great way to get the planning and teaching skills needed to run a camp. Though some directors have careers in sales, technology, marketing, and entertainment, many are teachers or business owners who provide year-round instruction, either full-time or part-time.

Linda Calvert Jacobson, an artist and owner of Casa de Linda Art Studio taught art to adults and children for many years before starting her summer camp. She gives tips on organizing day-to-day activities:

establish age groups for sessions
develop general outline of daily activities
select a camp theme
develop project ideas through extensive research and professional knowledge
create timelines for major projects and activities so that campers will have a completed project by the end of each camp session
have smaller, back-up projects and activities to keep campers busy and having fun

At the end of camp week, Linda holds a brief ceremony in which she presents certificates to campers and takes group photos; she has also started hosting an end-of-summer art show and ice cream social, encouraging campers to bring favorite art pieces and inviting families and friends. Similarly, campers at the Lego camp each presented one project and received a personalized CD of digital photos illustrating the camp week.

If you're thinking about using your skills to teach others but don't want to take on the responsibilities of running a camp, consider holding a session in partnership with a local school, church, or parks and recreation facility. For example, teachers designed and led classes at a summer enrichment program organized by St. Irene Catholic School; school board member Laura McGowan told me that both the school and teachers were able to generate extra income in a difficult economy.

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How to Get Good Advice

Julie Rains — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:00:52 +0000

By Julie Rains

Sometimes the shortest and best path to making a decision or solving a problem is to ask for insights from a wise person. Here are ways to make sure you are getting good advice.

Figure out precisely what you need advice on. Just like a research paper, you can get the best results if you narrow your topic, though you may have to search for sources who have the expertise you need. So, rather than asking someone how you can make more money, ask how you can get a raise at your current workplace, how you might change jobs to earn higher pay, generate money through investments, or earn extra dollars through a side business. But, if you're not completely sure what type of advice you need, it's okay to ask a more general question; you can still get good advice but the responses may not match your expectations.

Get advice from a trustworthy person who won't belittle you or your decisions. The saddest conversations I've witnessed or heard about are those in which the advice-giver demeans the person soliciting advice. Ideally, the advice-giver will show empathy and demonstrate some understanding of how you may have found yourself in need of advice. Perhaps you made one poor decision years ago, or didn't anticipate financial trouble in the recession but are having difficulties anyway. Advice should help illuminate the way from this point forward, not shine light on previous mistakes.

Listen to people who admit making mistakes. The person who hasn't always navigated life perfectly can often give great advice, even if the advice sounds something like "don't do what I did." Usually, though, the advice-giver has learned to overcome the very obstacles that challenge you now.

Realize that unsolicited advice is not always bad advice. I don't like anyone telling me what to do as much as anyone else. And, I've learned that unsolicited advice is usually un- or under-appreciated and even alienating, if not downright wrong. Still, just because you didn't ask for guidance doesn't automatically mean that it's bad advice.

Seek advice from people who aren't just like you, such as those younger or older than you are. Getting good advice means getting a perspective on a problem that is different from your own. To get insights that you wouldn't otherwise discover, talk with people who have varied experiences and viewpoints. Consider if their values match yours, though, before taking a recommended action.

Understand that advice should help you to make a decision, not tell you what your decision should be. Though I can be firm in giving advice (not to random people but to those very close to me, whose personal circumstances I know very well), I don't second-guess others' decisions, especially if they follow advice contrary to what I'd recommend. You may not be able to articulate and share every detail of a situation, so advice you receive may be valuable but not fully applicable to your circumstances. Judge for yourself based on insights provided by your friends, mentors, etc.

Look to those who have a long-term record of success. Make sure that you aren't asking for advice based on someone else's recent or short-term success. Look to someone who has experienced success in prosperous and difficult times.

Permalink | 5 comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: General Tips

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Remember Where You Parked Your Car and More: 35 Practical Uses of a Digital Camera

Julie Rains — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:46:08 +0000

By Julie Rains

Creativity, frugality, and, on occasion, desperation can inspire innovative uses of the digital camera. For example, if you have trouble remembering where you parked your car, especially when you are traveling to unfamiliar places, take a photo of the car in its space and the location signs, both emergency-preparedness expert Ana-Marie Jones and world traveler-educator-blogger Myscha Theriault tell me.

Whether it is a standalone device or part of a smartphone or PDA, don't leave home without it. Here are 35 ways to be more productive, have fun, and save money with your digital camera.

DIY Projects
Office Productivity
Emergency Preparedness
Travel
Celebrations
Shopping
Relocation
Dispute Resolution
Business Promotions
Teaching

DIY Projects

Explain a DIY problem to the folks at your favorite home improvement center for remodeling or repair projects. You can use images to explain your situation, accompanied with discussions of what you’ve tried and parts you’ve been using. (When John Chamberlin was having difficulties getting his new kitchen sink aligned with the existing drain connection, he took photos of his project to the plumbing specialist at The Home Depot, who then told him what connections, elbows, etc. to buy.)
Overhaul equipment despite nonexistent or poorly written manuals. Capture images of the entire piece as well as details of gears, systems, and parts prior to making any changes or disassembling for repair and renovation. Use photos during reassembly.
Gary Strawn, a Kona coffee farmer in Hawaii, said that his digital camera, along with the Internet, helped him set up new coffee processing equipment. Though he had spoken with several electricians, conducted his own research, and consulted with the distributor of electrical systems, he still had questions about its wiring. So he posted photos of the electrical control box and asked for help. The electrician father of a friend (who happened to have experience with industrial equipment) came to his rescue, giving him the answers he needed.

Sources: John Chamberlin of All-Pak, Inc., Harry Liebman of Candy Torahs, Gary Strawn of Kona Earth

Office Productivity

Capture program or system settings with digital photos before making changes recommended by tech support or online guides. You can go back to your original set-up if the advice doesn't solve your problem.
Avoid losing work completely if the computer locks up by taking a screen shot using the digital camera; you may have to do some retyping or data entry but you'll have saved critical information.
Save meeting notes on white boards, and send electronic versions of notes via email. (Cliff Langston says, “More than once this has saved massive stress (usually mine) when an over-zealous cleaning crew overlooked our huge ‘DO NOT ERASE’ instructions!”)
Lorena Prime recently used her digital camera to help a client, who had struggled to repair a copier for several weeks. Lorena took photos of the outside of the machine and inside where the malfunction seemed to be occurring, and then emailed the photos to a parts store. Within 10 minutes, the store staff identified and placed an order for the part. Next, Lorena hired a local fix-it person who was able to complete the project.

Sources: Dave Paradi of www.ThinkOutsidetheSlide.com, Cliff Langston of Leads To Sales, and Lorena Prime of Clearly Organized

Emergency preparedness

Catalog your belongings including your home, cars, and pets; be sure to capture images of you (and your loved ones) in your home. You’ll have evidence that your home, family, animals, and things belong to you, which can be helpful if you have to evacuate an area, file insurance claims, or make missing-person or lost-pet reports.

Document your medications with instructions by taking photos of labels and demonstrate the proper way to work with whatever medical conditions or physical limitations you may have by taking a series of pictures for demo purposes, which can help you get appropriate medical care.
Keep recent photos of your family members on your camera phone (if you have one) so that if you get separated during an emergency or while traveling, you can show other people who you are searching for and quickly get a photo to authorities if necessary.

Source: Ana-Marie Jones of CARD (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters)

Ana-Marie recommends "storing pictures in several ways (depending on your tech-talents and zeal), including online photo-sharing sites, social media sites, backed up on your hard drive, other people's homes, safe deposit box, etc."

Travel

Get around a new city or area by taking photos of the public transportation schedules (often displayed on signs but not available in print form) and maps of archeological sites, hiking trails, amusement parks, etc.

Organize pictures while traveling by capturing images of signs with the names of cities or sites being explored (if there is no sign, then write a note and take a photo of the note) to serve as a divider of photos.
Show your spouse that you did unplug the coffee pot, toaster, and any other devices with a dated digital image so you don’t have to go back home and check to make sure.
Avoid getting ripped off, resolve confusion, and give evidence of ownership by snapping photos of nearly everything such as your travel companions, the things you buy, and your luggage.

Sources: Ana-Marie Jones of CARD (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters) and Tanya Graw

Celebrations

Make holiday cards, invitations, and note cards using photos of family members, party honorees, or picturesque scenes.
Watch your baby grow or the seasons change by taking a picture of the same person or scenery each day for 365 days; assemble them into a progam such as iMovie and play back at a rapid pace.
Create a photo treasure hunt game to entertain guests at children’s parties. For example, start with a picture of the water tank. At the water tank, place a picture of the top of the avocado tree. Up in the tree, place a picture of the chicken coop, and so on.

Sources: Chris Corradino of Chris Corradino Photography and Gary Strawn of Kona Earth

Shopping

Share decision making for purchases by snapping photos of items you see in stores but want to show someone and come to a mutual agreement before buying.
Make a garden wish list by getting images of plants in bloom (with name and price) for easier selection during next year’s pre-bloom shopping trip for yourself or the garden club. In the meantime, research details about growing requirements and conditions to make sure that you’ll be able to get good results with the plants.
Comparison shop for big-ticket items, such as furniture, by snapping pictures from several views with prices and descriptions. Look at images while planning space in your home or office to pick your favorite, most functional, and color-compatible piece.

Sources: Willi Rudowsky of The Poynter Institute, News University, Deborah Graham, Lily Chern of Pure Chocolate Living, and Myscha Theriault of Wise Bread

Relocation

Remember the name and contact information of selling agents by taking photos of signs on properties for sale.
Show your roommate how a new place will look by making photos and videos.
Record thoughts about new apartments using Notes & Photos, a new iPhone application that ties in the MyNewPlace database with your reaction to specific properties.

direct link

Prepare for a move by documenting all the large and/or valuable items you are moving. Be ready to reassemble items by recording current set-ups (for example, photograph the backs of all the pieces in a media system with cables and wiring attached).
Create space plans. Start with graph paper to sketch dimensions of space and furniture. Rather than creating multiple sketches after you’ve determined the best placement of furniture, take photos of various layouts to see all of your options.

Sources: Willi Rudowsky of The Poynter Institute, News University, Jonathan (Jasper) Sherman-Presser of MyNewPlace, Janet Barclay of Organized Assistant, and Jenny Cheifetz of The Sugar Mommy

Dispute Resolution

Tell your side of the story and be much more convincing with visual images.

Gather and transmit information about vehicle accidents for use in filing insurance claims and identifying those involved in accidents. Nationwide Insurance has a Mobile Ap for the iPhone that can help speed up the accident reporting, emergency services notification, claims filing, and vehicle repair processes.

Sources: Willi Rudowsky of The Poynter Institute, News University, Gary Strawn of Kona Earth, and Myscha Theriault of Wise Bread

Business Promotions

Make a promotional video. James of Terressentials told me that he used a Canon A650IS, set on movie mode with resolution of 640 x 480 to create this video. He shot scenes that filled the camera's 4GB SD card to capacity, offloaded footage to his computer, cleared the card, and shot more footage. To stabilize the camera and minimize minor movements, he attached a tripod to the camera and let the tripod dangle from the bottom of the camera. His company used Audacity (open source software) for recording and mixing the audio tracks, which were prepared in-house before shooting the video on the company’s grounds.

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Show normal appearance of products (including variations of normal) to help prevent unnecessary, costly returns. Educating customers, prior to shipment rather than after a concern arises, builds goodwill among customers. (See Gary's explanation regarding the standard and shrink-wrapped looks associated with shipping coffee through the mail).
Give precise directions when traditional signs are unavailable, confusing, or inconsistent with road maps or web-generated directions. Add tips right on the photos or as captions. Photo directions are especially useful for tourists who may be renting a hideaway cabin or trying to find an access point for a trail on an outdoor adventure.
Visualize designs for potential customers. Show before and after results of redesigns to convince customers that items (such as furniture) can be recycled and renewed.

Sources: James of Terressentials, Debbi Somers of Somers Furniture, Willi Rudowsky of The Poynter Institute, News University, and Gary Strawn of Kona Earth

Teaching

Julie Swanson, the parent of a child with a disability and a disability specialist, often communicates with non-readers through use of visual images (created with her digital camera) rather than written language. For example, she creates chore charts that depict individual chores in the order that they need to be completed, describes a drawer's contents with a photo of items outside of the drawer, and documents and displays appropriate behavior in a variety of social settings.

She also creates recipe rings, which provide step-by-step instructions for making a recipe; her ring cover shows the completed recipe and the individual rings show each step beginning with the ingredients.

Source: Julie Swanson of Your Special Child.com

As for me, my camera helped me to understand how to place my bike on my new bike rack. The rack has a bunch of movable parts and I could never remember exactly how to use them. So, after I got the bike serviced and the shop's owner kindly and properly positioned it on its rack for me, I snapped a photo of the set-up. After referring to the image a few times, I finally understood the logic behind the arrangement.

If you have practical uses for your camera, share then in the comments.

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No Limit, No Interest: What’s the Deal with Charge Cards?

Julie Rains — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:00:11 +0000

By Julie Rains

Charge cards, like their credit card cousins, allow cardholders to use plastic cards to make purchases and then pay at the end of a settlement period, typically on a monthly basis. The main features of charge cards are no revolving credit (the balance must be paid in full each month) and no pre-set credit limit (this does not mean no limit at all).

There are some features specific to charge cards that could instill financial discipline for consumers and business owners. If you want the convenience and security of credit cards, without the risk of incurring debt and paying finance charges, a charge card may be for you.

No revolving credit. A true charge card, such as the ones offered by American Express, Diner’s Club International, and MasterCard International (Eurocard), allow the cardholder to pay with plastic but require payment of balances in full for each statement cycle. Because credit is not extended, there are no finance charges, no APRs to consider. However, late payments may incur flat fees and charges calculated as a percentage of the outstanding balance.

Business owners have additional flexibility. American Express, for example, has an “extended payment option” for travel expenses or capital equipment purchases; finance charges are applied to outstanding balances associated with these transactions. Additionally, their Plum Card allows cardholders to defer payment up to 60 days.

No pre-set limit. Another charge card feature is the no pre-set spending limit. There are limits, just not numbers that show up on card offers (which often mention the highest possible limit) or on monthly statements. Charge card providers may authorize card charges based on criteria such as credit scores, income, and payment history. According to American Express, “No pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Purchasing power adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit card record and financial resources known to us, and other factors.”

The charge card, then, could help instill discipline in cardholders as they may be less apt to overspend if they realize that balances must be paid in full every month. And, not having to pay finance charges could reap cost savings. Similarly, though, a well-disciplined credit cardholder could use the same pay-in-full tactics and also avoid finance charges.

In researching types of charge cards, I noticed that Kohl’s offers a Kohl’s Charge Card, which is really a credit card that finances Kohl’s store transactions only (its name may distinguish it from an affinity credit card that can be used with other merchants, such as L.L. Bean’s credit card). Balances can be carried over from month to month, and interest is charged on these balances. So, check the terms of the agreement rather than relying on the card’s name to understand its uses and your obligations.

So, why bother with a charge card? Being required to pay balances is a great incentive to keep spending in check while enjoying the convenience of plastic. But consider all features and your planned purposes before signing up for a new card.

Charge Card Summary

Essential features

No finance charges
Balances must be paid monthly or every statement cycle
No funds are automatically taken from bank account*

Typical features

No pre-defined spending limit
Late charges billed for late payments*

Possible features

No annual fee*
Discounts on certain products or services*
Specialized insurance (such as travel insurance)*

*These features may also be found in a credit card.

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